The Crow's Caw

THE YELLOW ROSE DINER AND FILL STATION (VARIOUS AUTHORS) / Forthcoming from Sideshow Press (December 2011) / 269 pp. / Signed Limited Edition Hardcover

The folks at Sideshow Press are really putting out some solid work. I recently read an Ed Lee chapbook that dropped my jaw a few times (well…it is Ed Lee after all) and my most recent foray into this publisher’s catalog was no different. An intriguing book of cleverly inter-woven shorts, THE YELLOW ROSE DINER AND FILL STATION manages to establish the action right from the beginning and never lets up throughout the six contributions from some very talented writers. Each story has its own personality and life yet they all blend perfectly into a blood-splattered page turner that is tough to ignore and pretty much impossible to put down.

THE YELLOW ROSE starts the reader off at the diner immersed in a conversation between two guys, Shelby and Arnold. The hauntingly poignant question “What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done?” is asked and the first selection from author Erik Williams is introduced.

DYING OF THE LIGHT is a fantastic read that dives into the horrific world of human trafficking. Walter, a photographer seeking the perfect shot, decides that the risks involved do not outweigh the potential reward of capturing a gripping image of a human “transaction”. But what he doesn’t consider is the weight and burden that the knowledge and insight will have on his soul. Brutal and sad, this one is a must read.

THIS IS WHERE THE ROAD ENDS is my favorite of the bunch. John Mantooth’s story examines the psyche of a drunk driver having killed a child – and gotten away with it – and how that event affects the rest of his life. This story blew me away with its content (brutal) and twist at the end (never saw it coming!). This one is an absolute gem that kicked my butt all over the place. Excellent work.

Kim Despins’s offering, DOSHALO, is a story of what can go terribly awry if you mess with a Gypsy. Don’t people know that curses are no joke? Apparently lifetime underachiever Rae does not. A tangle at the local fair leads to one’s accidental death and, subsequently, the passing of the spell-casting torch. Rae’s newfound abilities are seemingly limitless but with great power comes great responsibility and Rae’s carelessness leads up to a surprising finish of a very tense story. Highly recommended.

Even though the title HATE CRIMES AND THERAPY OVER CREAMED CHIPPED BEEF sounds a bit over the top, the story is actually very aptly named. Sam W. Anderson spins out the tale of a psychiatrist/patient relationship gone bad. The power that a doctor of this learning has is absolutely tremendous. Think about it… not only can one dig into what makes somebody tick, and greatly impact it, they can also prescribe whatever cocktail of drugs they think might fix the problem. Or, in this case, they can decide “Hey, this guy is a true racist and prejudiced scumbag. Time for some payback”. Awesome story and awesome finish.

Man, does Pax ever know the deal. Blessed – or cursed – with the ability to foresee people’s deaths, KNOWING THE DEAL by Petra Miller delves into the supernatural as well as the very real world of abuse. Pax is a convict counting the days until he comes home to his little girl, Panda. Her periodic letters have kept him going through the endless monotony of prison life and his return to society is a joyous one until he “sees” his brother-in-law Seth and the accompanying hole through the top of his head. Never before has Pax interfered with destiny but this is family; how can he look away and not at least try? His efforts to halt the inevitable lead to a morbid discovery and things will never be the same. Not even close. This is outstanding work all the way around.

A story about teenage rebellion hits home for me. Despite the well intended guidance from my parents, I felt as though multiple tattoos and a post through my tongue were much better and more applicable concepts to what was going on in my life at the time (turns out I’m still getting inked on a regular basis but you understand where I’m going with this). THE DARKNESS GAME by Kurt Dinan is the story of Piper, a deacon’s daughter who on the night of her high school graduation decides to destroy the wholesome image she’s associated with. And how far does she take the Darkness Game? Let’s just say far enough to be unrecognizable to all those around her. As dark as they come, this story does more than its job of closing out the book.

THE YELLOW ROSE DINER AND FILL STATION is a very quick read that keeps the reader very content with its mixed bag of tricks. Smart writing from each author moves it along nicely and cleverly placed central themes let you know that this isn’t just six stories; rather, it’s six stories that go very well together and cohesively result in a great product. This book is entertaining throughout and at times will shock you (or delight you; I consider them one in the same). Don’t miss these 269 pages of truly original horror.

- Jordan Norton

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