Morbidologies edited by Shane D. Keene and John F.D. Taff
Morbidologies is a collection of thirteen horror pieces. Edited by Shane D. Keene and John F.D. Taff, it was released on October 24, 2023 by Bleeding Edge Books and weighs in at 234 pages.
Spoiler alert: I love this book. There. I got it out of my system. Now I can gush over the stories and tell you why, though I will keep the crux of each story to myself so everyone can enjoy the surprises and twists.
When I started the book, I got through the first five stories and realized something. These are the types of stories that you read and enjoy, but they haunt you because there are so many layers to them that your mind doesn’t want to let them go. You keep thinking about each of them, playing them out in your head as small details resurface, leaving behind little aha moments. Each story focuses on an obsession, and you might just find yourself a little obsessed, too.
Whenever I read an anthology, I fully intend to end my review listing my favorite stories, the ones that resonated with me most when I read the book. When I went back to look at my notes for each story, I realized I couldn’t do that. I would have listed over half the book, and I didn’t know which stories to leave off the list. So, I’m going to share my notes on each piece in order of appearance.
“Morbidologies” by Shane D. Keene: What a way to start the collection. Every line took me deeper and deeper into what the title of this book is all about. I felt like this lead-in poem was a gruesome promise of what to expect throughout the anthology.
“Pluck” by Sonora Taylor: Not only do we get a bit of gore, the characters in this story are the main focus. I enjoyed how Taylor peeled back each layer a bit at a time.
“The Third Shannon” by Jonathan Janz: This is the first story I’ve read by Janz. It’s official, I need more. Intense. Excellent characters. Jaw-dropping. I was all in.
“Beyond the Red Door” by Craig Wallwork: I want to read this story again and again. The language is gorgeous. The descriptions. Gruesome and intense. I’m in love.
“Raging in the Dark” by J. Daniel Stone: This story is trippy. I feel like it takes the reader on an artistic journey, pulling back the curtain into a world that can be both tempting and terrifying.
“No God of Bread or Debts” by Wendy N. Wagner: Step into the mind of a madman! As a science nerd, I loved this one. I wasn’t sure what to expect when it started, but it belongs right alongside all of these morbid tales.
“In Mourning, She Wakes Again” by Eric LaRocca: Of course I loved this. LaRocca did an amazing job fleshing out the mother in this story. I knew I’d enjoy it, having read his work before, but wow! This one shines. I’m a fan.
“The Fall of Felix Ellerby” by Beverley Lee: The first sentence hooked me. Excellent story! What a tale! Horror that pulls at your heartstrings.
“3:00 Meating” by Chad Lutzke: Another great story - love the name Juicy, too! Lutzke just kept upping the ante throughout the story building to a crescendo.
“Skin Maps” by Shane Hawk: I love the language in this story. It elevates the connection to the characters and the overall tone. I felt like I was in a fever dream as I read this. Well told and full of great wording and descriptions. The story felt alive.
“The Great Momentum of Doubt” by John F.D. Taff: This story is tight. The wording and visuals are well constructed. What a journey following a grieving man’s obsessions. Lovely taste of gore.
“Carly’s Wish” by Andrew Cull: Wow! What a story! I was in it the whole time and loved having everything unfold for me and the characters together. Edge of seat stuff! Excellent!
“The Eleven Films of Oona Cashford” by Gwendolyn Kiste: This story’s characters make it. The format sucked me in. We are given the story, but as an “onlooker” my reader brain enjoyed piecing out what was happening and trying to get to the bottom of the story. It felt interactive.
Aside from the stories, the Author Notes at the end are a favorite for me. As a writer myself, I love hearing about what inspired a story to be written. Each contributor tells us how their stories came to be, and that made me love them even more. I love this addition to the author bios. That being said, I hope Shane D. Keene will tell us a little more about rat salad!
I’d like to end this review with a comment from Eric LaRocca’s bio:
“Fiction that makes us uncomfortable is usually the kind of fiction we remember.”
More from Bleeding Edge Books:
Who is Shane D. Keene?
Poet, author, 60 year old punk rocker, neurodivergent. Lives for words & music. No filters, no bullshit, no fear, only love to give.
*** taken from Shane’s Twitter account
Bleeding Edge Books
Bleeding Edge Books is a small publisher of horror and dark fiction of all permutations with a focus on anthologies and novellas. Our goal is to explore the landscape of genre fiction and bring you meticulously crafted books that feature popular and established authors as well as new and emerging voices. We believe fiction should be a visceral experience. We seek to engage you, unsettle you, amaze you, break your heart, and piece it back together, leaving you forever changed.
***taken from the Bleeding Edge Books website
Who is John F.D. Taff?
John F.D. Taff is a multi-Bram Stoker Award short-listed dark fiction author with more than 30 years experience, and more than 100 short stories and seven novels in print.
*** taken from John’s Amazon Author page
