Friday 9 April 2010

Necrotic Tissue #10 Review

I've fallen way behind with my short story reading (happens every year - good intentions in January, fall by the wayside by March) and with a delicious paint-strewn week off work this week, I thought it was time I reduce my to-read-pile by at least one - the latest issue of Necrotic Tissue.

Loved it. Okay, not that surprising.

The issue starts with the intriguing The Cover by Jeff Strand, and is followed by the gross, but brilliant, Hatch by Fred Venturini. Shudders at the memory of the spiders. For me, a second read of Last Waltz in Texas by Bryce Albertson turned the story into a delicious tale. Fabulous foreshadowing. The Red House by Colm McGeevers is an old fashioned story. I liked it.

While I can't deny I may be biased towards Aaron Polson's work, I'll let you make your mind up about The Distillery by revealing two of my favourite excerpts from the story. "...black veins breaking their faces into awkward monsters..." and "...born in a hive of human rot." Enough said in my opinion.

A Used Infinity by Marianne Halbert, is a sad tale of murder and a possessed GPS system, while AJ Brown's Glimpse  is a claustrophobic carinval tale. I adored The Monster Whisperer by Erik Williams. A story that uses facing your fears to bloody success. Didn't see that end coming. And finally, Emancipation with Teeth by Heath Lowrance had me grimacing all the way through, but the pay off was worth it.

My two favourite 100 worders this issue were Last Laugh by Guy Belleranti (funny) and a delicious piece of dark sci-fi from KV Taylor, Hostile Takeover.

And, if you wish to win my thumbed through copy of Necrotic Tissue, say so in the comments and I'll post it out to the lucky winner. Of course, if you don't, I shall keep it all to myself.

12 comments:

Aaron Polson said...

I really wrote the phrase "...born in a hive of human rot". Ouch.

That's dark. I scare myself.

Cate Gardner said...

You did, you did.

Mary Rajotte said...

Oh, I need to read The Distillery now! I want it!

BTW - your review was fab :)

I, too need to amp up my reading again. I have so many things bookmarked...

Cate Gardner said...

Then it may well be yours.

Kara McElhinny said...

This is a great review Cate, and you're right... the one sentence you wrote from Aaron's story gave me chills!

Congrats again Aaron! Thanks for the review Cate!

Barry Napier said...

Sheesh. A hive of human rot? That's awesome. I can't remember the last time I wrote something that called for such a line...and that makes me sad.

Barry Napier said...

oh crap. and of course, I want this magazine in my greedy little hands, please!

Fox Lee said...

Ack, I have to read my copy! I am queen of the sloth creatures : P

Cate Gardner said...

Hinny, he is the master of chills.

Barry, you are entered.

Natalie, I disagree - I've still to read issue #9 :D

Katey said...

I'm just over halfway through my copy and enjoying it as usual. Hatch was awesome and I read The Distillery first. Too cool for words!

Glad I amused you!

Danielle Birch said...

Great review. My copy is currently enroute, hopefully not too far away.

Cate Gardner said...

The copy of NT 10 has been won by the fair Mary Rajotte.