| Title | : | Gory Hole |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0986059439 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780986059438 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 48 |
| Publication | : | First published April 1, 2014 |
Gory Hole Reviews
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Intense and not for the faint of heart, Craig Wallwork’s Gory Hole explores not only the darkest recesses of humanity, but every disturbing orifice. Mixing dark humor and a grisly canvas of human behavior, at times I felt horribly vulnerable, others, offended (as in all the best of horror), and still others, addicted to the page. Only a writer of Wallwork’s talent can create such a viscerally encompassing experience that left me with literal nightmares. His work is diverse, from his mythical collection, Quintessence of Dust, to the strange macabre noir of To Die Upon a Kiss, to this bizarro trio of horrific tales, so that every work is an evocative foray into the depths of human nature. His prose is organic and vibrant, painting emotions through body parts:
“After a short drive up the path they were met at the door by an old man. Framing his head and jaw was hair the colour of piss-drenched snow. Deep ravines ran through his forehead like electrical signals from an erratic heartbeat. Hands were hidden by industrial rubber gloves and a large apron draped over his church bell figure.”
Gory Hole isn’t just a trip down a rabbit’s hole, but a gory plunge. Just make sure you don’t lose your head to the zombies of Wallwork's imagination. -
You can always tell when a writer enjoys his writing. When even he can't wait to read what wonders he creates.
Wallwork's stories are effortless. His words flow through ink like blood through ripped veins. He enjoys teasing you. To see the spark of knowing in your eyes, to feel you tremble with anticipation, hear you chuckle to yourself, and then surprise you with a sharp twist that leaves you shaking your head and wondering how he pulled your strings so well. Delightfully deceiving.
His words are so fresh and palpable, I want to eat each one of them
with some fava beans and a nice chianti. -
Always a fan of Craig Wallwork. I think my blurb says it all:
“When your laughter turns to tears, saline to bloody rivulets, you have found GORY HOLE by Craig Wallwork. A master storyteller, this trio of black comedy is lyrical prose dipped in deviant lust dusted with violent retribution—for the horror fan in us all.” - Richard Thomas, author of Staring Into the Abyss. -
Not for the faint hearted. Priggish. Nor those without a sense of humour. And yes, I stand by the five star review. I surprised myself with this one.
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Craig Wallwork is a writer with skills, an author of two novels (To Die Upon a Kiss and the much celebrated The Sound of Loneliness) as well as a short story collection (Quintessence of Dust). In April of this year, Perpetual Motion Machine Publishing will be releasing his newest effort, a chapbook in the tradition of Creepshow and Tales From the Darkside, called Gory Hole: A Horror Triple Bill. Within these pages lay three intense, bloody, and darkly humorous tales that bring us to places we aren’t quite sure we want to go but can’t stop ourselves from exploring.
The first story you may have read before, but it is still a great way to start. “Revenge of the Zombie Pussy Eaters” starts fast and violent, as we watch a character stabbing a zombie with the leg of a barstool. After a first page intro of widespread blood, death, destruction, and zombies, we backtrack to the beginning of the night, where we join a group of dudes out celebrating their friend’s divorce with some drinking. After a few more bar stops, and a few more drinks, they decide to look for female accompaniment, eventually deciding the best place to meet girls would be the gay bars. Before you know it, lesbian zombies are everywhere, friends are dying, and we find ourselves trapped in a bar a la Shaun of the Dead, but in a bar in the village from Doghouse. The story is full of gore and tongue in cheek humor, as well as a taste of humanity, and also contains an inside joke of its own: all of the characters are named after Wallwork’s writerly friends (“Gordon” is fiction writer Gordon Highland, “KORPON CORP” is named after crime-writer Nik Korpon, and so on). “Revenge…” starts the collection off with a splat, and definitely sets the standard for what will follow.
In “Human Tenderloin,” the middle story in Gory Hole, we are introduced to a small group of high-class cannibals who regularly meet for a special dinner. The first person narrator is preparing the night’s feast while on the phone with his supplier, The Company, complaining that the body that was delivered was an amputee and will hardly feed his dinner party. He goes on to detail some of his recipes, explaining that they require a specific type of corpse for their fine tastes; no prostitutes or drug addicts, as they may carry disease, but religious folks (specifically “followers of Christ”) have been found to need less tenderizing. We meet each of the guests at the party and learn a bit about them. All, that is, except for the mysterious M, a secretive woman who has some kind of connection with The Company that gets her a hefty discount. The dinner parties shift from person to person, but when it’s M’s turn, things are a little bit different.
The final story in the collection, “Sicko,” is the longest of the three, taking up over half the book. I don’t want to give too much away with this one, but I will say it is my favorite of the group. A group of guys are celebrating their friends impending marriage (the opposite of the guys in the first story) with a hunting trip. When they find themselves lost on their way to the lodge, rather than sleep in the cramped van, they opt to check into a little bed and breakfast called Prospect House. Everything starts getting weird. The building is surrounded by an electric fence. A strange man wearing rubber gloves checks them in, then tells them once they’re in they can’t leave til morning. There are no televisions, the phones in the rooms aren’t even hooked up, and there is a strange sound coming from behind a door near the front desk. It’s like when the kids stop at the gas station in Texas Chainsaw Massacre, or the hotel run by the little old lady in In the Mouth of Madness, giving you that feeling of impending doom. But sometimes things aren’t what they seem. Sometimes, they are worse.
Gory Hole: A Horror Triple Bill is an awesome short horror collection that takes somewhat familiar ideas and adds that “something extra” that we all love to talk about in order to make them stand out amongst their peers. One of the simple things Craig Wallwork does is add in a human side, specifically in the opening and closing stories. They aren’t all creepiness and blood and action, there are also bonding moments between friends, realistic conversations where buddies aren’t afraid to expose themselves as vulnerable, as long as they’re alone with a close friend. I think it’s these moments, the ones that make the characters stand out as real people we care about, people we know, people we root for, that push Gory Hole above the formulaic zombie and creature feature fiction that is prevalent and into a world of its own.
That’s not the only thing that sets Gory Hole apart from its contemporaries. The cover artwork by George C. Cotronis is outstanding, as are the interior pictures, one for each story, by Luke Spooner. Wallwork’s writing style is top notch, more than likely falling into that ever-vague “literary fiction” category. But don’t let that fool you; this is straight up action-filled horror tinged with dark, dark humor, just written very well. Gory Hole is another super fast read, one that you will finish in one sitting not just because it’s short, but because it’s that good. Both Craig Wallwork and Perpetual Motion Machine Publishing seem to be doing some very interesting and exciting things lately, this being just one of many, and I look forward to seeing more from both camps. -
I was first introduced to Craig Wallwork’s work through reading - The Sound of Loneliness (what a fantastic book title and read). Gory Hole is a different kind of beast altogether compared to Loneliness. It’s a trilogy of short stories that are full of snot and gore, yet it still has those Wallwork human condition moments that make you think about us humans as well as some imaginative dark humour that makes you laugh at us too. Did I mention there is lots of violence? And lots of body parts coming away from bodies…
I liked all three short stories in the trilogy, but my favourite was Sicko, a story about a group of men who get lost on a hunting trip and end up in an iffy lodge with an even iffier owner. It reminded me of a cross between Dog Soldiers (with deer) and The Ritual (with more deer). As with all of Craig’s writing, the flow is really smooth, making it easy to sit down and read his stuff with a smile on your face and a niggle in the back of your mind. I can’t explain the niggle, but it is a satisfying kinda niggle all the same.
As I read the trilogy, I couldn’t help thinking that each story could have been longer. Maybe that’s a sign of a good writer, leaving out the stuff that readers skip over, so that you finish the story wanting more. I’d still love to see a longer version of Sicko, but in movie format. Netflix, where are you? Hurry up and get this one made into a movie before the real zombie apocalypse smashes down all of our doors and the human condition becomes the zombie condition.
Do I recommend the trilogy? Yup, but only to those who read and like/understand/can stomach this kinda stuff. -
I am not going to write a extensive detailed review here because I mean come on its a book called GORY HOLE. I am just going to tell you why I liked it and that this is a legitimate 5 star review. There are 3 short stories in this book. The first story "Revenge of The Zombie Pussy Eaters" is about vagina eating lesbian zombies. This is probably my least favorite of the three stories but it is still very entertaining. I think those that are diehard fans of bizzaro and over the top horror will really dig this one. The second story "Human Tenderloin" is not as comical as the other two but is definitely my favorite. Tenderloin is undeniably one of the best short stories I have read this year if not THE best. I could totally see this story being expanded into a full novel length story, there are so many whos, whats, whens, wheres, and hows that could be filled in. Wallwork's descriptive prose and original approach to cannibalism made me squirm, which is very hard to do. The final story "Sicko" is hilarious! The premise is not that uncommon for horror: Dudes get lost and trapped in a shady bed and breakfast leading to gore and violence, but that doesn't matter because it unfolds into a hilarious adventure of brutality and depravity. Buy GORY HOLE and read it, unless you are an uptight douchebag who reads James Patterson or Danielle Steel. :)
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Be Warned: Reading this book dominates your brain. You 'must' read this book to your husband, girls. (their comments mixed with your reading is a kick!)
First, you need to get passed the COVER of "Gory Hole". Have you seen it? How long can you look at it --until you must look away? Then keep coming back to it --again -and again -and again?/!!!!
If this book were chosen as a book club pick -- (worthy, for many reasons), I'm sure discussion of the cover would take place also. (don't you have comments to say about it?) Something? How can a person not!
Reading "Gory Hole" is a wonderful diet book. ha ha! You won't feel hungry at any time!
Just for fun --(to give you an 'little' teaser as to why), I'll share a line in the book yet still not give anything away:
......."A client was cooking roast pelvis when her oven exploded, covering her and four elderly ladies in molten plastic".
Craig Wallwork is the only author to do justice to a book like this. I had no real interest in Zombies --(not like Craig) ---but I now have a deeper appreciate for ALL the 'secret-want-a-bee' kids wishing to be one after reading "Gory Hole". Amazing creative thinking develops!!!
This author is brilliant! (I'd like to borrow his brain) -
This creepy little book had my attention from the moment it was in my hands. It wasn't just visually appealing, but fun to read. Presenting it as a Horror Triple Bill was a great idea. The stories were darkly humorous and gore-filled, but what made them special was something else. There is a way that the author both teases and surprises the reader that sets it apart for me. Each short had an ending that was, in my opinion, satisfying, something you are less likely to get with a short story.
Of the three, my favorite was Human Tenderloin. Wallwork's descriptions of cannibalism are unique. I really liked how the characters had such sophisticated personalities, certainly not what you would expect in this type of story. I could see this one expanded into a much longer piece.
I do not want to give anything else away. I will say I am ready for more from the author. This one will leave a lasting impression.
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This book is what happens when a talented writer tells his inner censor that he is just going for a short walk and instead goes on a week-long bender of literary sex and blood, indulging every dirty and bloody idea that would have been immediately x'd out for fear of how your mum would look at you if she read it. Intense, outrageous fun for strong-stomached, mature readers.
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Craig Wallwork - Gory Hole
3 short stories from the crazy genius that is Craig Wallwork that will have you laughing, crying and reaching for the nearest item you can spew into.
I finished this in one sitting - I’ve not developed a high speed reading technique, it’s under 50 pages long, (A4 pages I might add) but when the final page was read, I closed the book, and stared at the wonderful cover art wishing it wasn’t over and wanting more.
Funny, witty and gore galore!
If vagina eating lesbians, cannibal dinner parties and mutant deer are your thing, Gory Hole is an absolute must. -
This is my introduction to Craig Wallwork's fiction and honestly the beautiful cover along with praise from Gabino Iglesias, Richard Thomas, and others compelled me purchase this a few weeks ago.
Gory Hole is comprised of three short stories: Revenge of the Zombie Pussy Eaters, Human Tenderloin, and Sicko. The first story involves a group of guys who take a trip down to the gay bars to see if they can pick up some girls, but all they find are lesbians and zombies. It's a fun, nasty tale that had me laughing and staring in awe at some of Wallwork's descriptions.
The second story "Human Tenderloin" revolves around a group of cannibals who frequently meet up for exquisitely prepared feasts. Things take a turn for the worst, but the dark comedy keeps the story from getting too gruesome.
The final story "Sicko" is the longest and probably my favorite out of the trio. It's about a group of guys who get lost in the woods, but decide to spend the night at this fishy lodge. Wallwork pumps up the tension and just when you think you know what's about to go down, he hits you with a plot twist that knocks you off your feet. Seriously though, I was impressed by the suspense, little surprises, and natural flow of dialogue.
After finishing the book in one sitting, I sat there staring out the window wanting more. Gory Hole is a fun, gory collection of fiction from a guy who knows how to spin a helluva yarn. Wallwork is great at balancing black humor with over-the-top violence and smart prose. I could easily see someone like Sam Raimi turning Sicko into a great popcorn flick. -
Each of these stories is sick and twisted in its own special way. I enjoyed "Sicko", the longest of the three, the most.
The title does hint at more sex/erotica than what is actually there, but other than that I have no complaints about this one.
Solid collection. -
Story One: Revenge of the Zombie Pussy Eaters
As the title suggests, it is a bit crass in places. There’s a dirty joke in there I must remember to tell a mate of mine because he’ll love it. But it’s very descriptive, really funny in places, and with a shock ending, likeable characters and an interesting premise. I enjoyed it a lot.
One of my favourite lines was:
“Save for the girl who had slapped Corbier, and a few random girls you could throw in a river and skim off ugly all week, nearly every place we went in was full of guys.”
Revenge of the Zombie Pussy Eaters, Gory Hole by Craig Wallwork
Story Two: Human Tenderloin
So articulate. Not sure what it is about the idea of civilised cannibalism, that being: when the rich eat the poor, but it's a strong theme. The rich all well-read and perfectly manicured so, naturally, they shop for their bodies over the phone, using discreet services. Love it.
Story Three: Sicko
Mutant deer and a bit of late-expressed sexuality. Fun times. Love a horror story within a horror story. Get the characters thinking about what might happen, makes the reader think about what might happen. Fabulous.
Mr. Wallwork has an extraordinary gift for observation.
“Floral wallpaper held damp plaster to crumbling walls, red paisley carpet held the footprints of visitors who were probably now dead, and doilies hid the cup-rings burnt into the veneer of mahogany tables and drawers.”
Sicko, Gory Hole by Craig Wallwork
The writing style is witty and succinct. The concepts are intriguing. The characters are well-drawn and fascinating, and I laughed out loud more than once. I really enjoyed the stories.
