REVIEWED: ASYLUM BY MARK ALLAN GUNNELLS
ASYLUM by Mark Allan Gunnells / December 2010 from The Zombie Feed / 82 pp. / paperback or kindle
I first read Mark’s work in 2010 and quickly noticed that his characters usually have a fun and playful quirkiness about them. I was expecting that with his latest release Asylum, but he surprised me with a more serious tale. It was a nice surprise and shows his versatility, something I think any writer worth their salt has in spades.
Mark puts a nice twist on the normal zombie tale by setting his characters in a gay club. In the opening, the protagonist’s wild best friend is going down on some guy in the parking lot and isn’t it just like a zombie to ruin your good time?
The protagonist (Curtis) is a young gay man who has never been intimate with anyone. He’s quiet and reserved, but after the attack shows moments of bravery and (thank god) common sense. His best friend (Jimmy) brings him to Asylum—a club operated by Madame Diva, a caring and protective mother hen—in hopes of getting Curtis laid. The zombie attack is brutal but they retreat back into the club where, being as late as it is, there are only a few patrons, the DJ, Madame Diva, a male stripper, a salty bartender, and fear.
The rest of the story is handled from inside each of the characters in turn as they hole up against the zombie attack. Mark does a great job constructing unique back stories and traits for each character, which is a big plus. We’re privy to their demons as death stares them in the face and there is a lot of emotional weight that adds depth to their predicament. I’m picky with story endings, but for me, Mark hit just the right notes in the final paragraphs—creating both a whimper and a resonant bang.
Mark Allan Gunnells is definitely an entertaining writer to keep your eye on. And Asylum is a great place to start.
- Lee Thompson
http://alongthispathsodarkly.blogspot.com