| Title | : | Spinal Remains: A Collection of Stories |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | - |
| Publication | : | Published August 9, 2022 |
" SPINAL REMAINS is the perfect illustration of why collections are so important. If you think you know Chad Lutzke, travel down these paths that take you far from expectations. At turns nostalgic, horrifying and downright disgusting, but always intensely human and gorgeously written. My favorite Lutzke so far."
- Laurel Hightower , author of CROSSROADS and BELOW
" Spinal Remains is the only collection you need to read this year! Living is horror, and no one taps into the marrow of broken hearts, souls and minds better than Chad Lutzke."
- Hunter Shea , author of MISFITS and TO THE DEVIL, A CRYPTID
Spinal Remains: A Collection of Stories Reviews
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Coming August 9th, 2022. Add it to your shelves.
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If you're a seasoned Lutzke fan like me, his latest collection is a must read. And if you're a new comer to his work, it's a great place to start. The stories put his writing skills and genre-bending abilities on full display. There's something here for every dark fiction reader, from the subtle to extreme. A few of my personal favorites were Vigil, Frankenstein Lipstick, and Dripping Tuna, and Better than October. Highly recommended!
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4.5 ⭐️ I have yet to read anything Lutzke I didn’t love. This is definitely in my top 3 books from him.
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Although it doesn’t get as much flashy press as its sisters splatterpunk, cosmic, and paranormal, literary—so-called “art house”—horror is a subgenre that has always quietly yet reliably simmered at the top of the scare heap. Chad Lutzke is a true Renaissance man: his visual art garners its own deserved praise, but his literary horror writing is a pure delight, a fat pat of butter on the most filling of storylines. Although Lutzke darts off into other subgenres within Spinal Remains, the majority of the stories are psychological or quiet horror, and there is not a weak entry in the bunch over the span of the fourteen-story collection...
Read the rest of the review on Horror Tree here -
“And I felt if Grandpa poked him too hard the skin would split and he might explode, covering us in death juice.”- from the story Cycles
Chad Lutzke writes vivid stories of morbid curiosities that nestle into your subconscious leaving you thinking about it days later and wondering if it was a nightmare that you are recalling or is it a flashback to one of Lutzke’s tales.
The thing with these stories is that the main character could be any of us. They are just regular people until they get put in extraordinary circumstances and things get…odd.
There is sorrow, humor, a nod to the classics, and kids being kids in this collection of horror tales but most of all, no matter what is happening, you feel a connection to the story, one that isn’t going to release you anytime soon. -
Every stories were awesome, not a bad story in the entire book !
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Another great collection of short stories. 4.25 🌟
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Good read!
Another good book by Chad Lutzke! I've read most of his books and they are all good. You're really missing out if you're not reading what he puts out. -
4.5, rounding up
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Had the privilege of an early read of this collection, and it's absolutely engrossing. There's a wide range of themes here, and Lutzke's talents are on full display. An excellent read, cover to cover.
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Spinal Remains by Chad Lutzke, Cemetery Gates Media; 1st edition (August 9, 2022)
Review by David Niall Wilson
This collection is a not-so-friendly neighborhood of stories. Lutzke has crafted all the pieces in this collection around ordinary, everyday people, places, neighborhoods, relationships, and then taken them to strange, and at times very dark places. Often, it’s the matter-of-fact reactions, the unexpected ways the characters play off one another and interact, that are most disturbing.
As in all collections and anthologies, some of the stories made a deeper connection than others. The very first story, “Predisposition and a Box of Crayons,” caught me with the ending. It’s a serious drop into mental illness and parenthood that, if you have children, will leave a chill.
Another stand-out for me was “I Gave Them the Finger,” which introduces another theme that runs throughout the book – body parts. As mentioned above, it’s the very odd ways that those involved in the story react to the horrifying, absurd and chilling turns the stories take that is the key. These are not vivid, pencil in the eye horror stories. They are much more subtle and can catch you off guard. (There is at least one that goes extreme… just to see if you are paying attention).
My favorite story in the collection is “He Wears the Lake.” It’s strange, and more surreal than many of the others. It deals with aging, and dementia. It deals with “dealing” in ways that feel strange and at the same time very real.
“Better than October” is a reminder that teenage boys in coming-of-age stories very often do stupid things. They also, often, find themselves mixed up in ways that they did not expect, and can never escape.
“Baby Steps” is an almost humorous take on a modern day Renfield that is (at the same time) close to the bone for those suffering from addiction.
The final story, Vigil, was well-placed. An entire neighborhood, confronted with an unexpected horror, reacting one-one one, and as a group. Finding a way through something bad while, at the same time, continuing to be neighborly, to tell stories and share food. It felt at first as if all the neighborhoods of the book might be from one place, and that many of them were present for that vigil, even though it is not the case.
This is a very solid collection. Unlike most, it has themes that tie it together, and, with few exceptions, a style that does the same, giving it a solid form as a single book, rather than a patchwork. Highly recommended. -
I've read more than half of Lutzke's books, including the Spicy Constellation collection. Spinal Remains is his third selection of stories. They range from emotional horror, psychological horror, coming-of-age, humor, and the in-between. Some stories hit harder than others, of course, but this is a striking collection of shorts. You can pretty much guarantee any Lutzke book is worthy of purchase.
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Outstanding horror shorts
This is the first time reading short stories by Chad Lutzke. I've read almost all his books and now I know I've missed out on his talent for a short story. As with many of the books he's written, his shorter works visit coming of age, horror and mystery. This collection contains a few pretty brutal shorts and a few that were lighter and a lot of fun. -
A great collection of Lutzke stories. Not a clunker in the bunch! I literally laughed out loud several times (especially when Chad gave me the finger…read it, you’ll see what I mean). I was horrified, disturbed, and thoroughly entertained throughout. 5 Stars, no regrets!
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video review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5YlU...
Chad Lutzke brings us his 3rd short story collection, full of grief horror. Yea, he knows how to tug at your heart strings and mess with your mind. And he does it so smooth, you don’t even realize what he is doing to you until the damage is done.
Here we have a collection where Chad hits on several different genres, spreading around his talent. We get a little crime in this collection, along with a few extreme parts, extreme and bizarre sort of mixed. We get that Chad Lutzke humor, some tongue-in-cheek action. And of course we get the human horror, because after all, humans are the most deadly monster, and that is a reoccurring theme in Chad Lutzke’s work.
This collection is all over the place, taking bits and pieces of the Lutzke universe, mixing them together, creating nice little surprises around every corner.
The collection kicks off with a bang, as we have a woman who has to start her life over after her husband decides to have an affair. And in doing so she witnesses her son having a “make-believe” friend. Or is he really “Make believe?” You may be questioning yourself by the end of “Predisposition and a Box of Crayons.”
“I Gave Them The Finger” is a fun funny story of a kid finding a finger and searching for the owner. It was amusing.
“A Season For Pruning” will have you looking away, then back to the story, then looking away again. It gives the body horror genre a new definition.
“Hole’s” showcases the voyeurism in all of us. Especially when its someone we don’t like, getting what they deserve.
And then Lutzke ends the collection with ‘Vigil.” This is the definition of some fine writing. This one is deep and makes your heart hurt.
There isn’t a weak story in the bunch. Not at all. I can’t find fault with any of them.
All have the smooth like butter prose we are used to from Lutzke. All are entertaining, bringing us scenarios we know exist but we don’t think about. They all show different kinds of people, their personalities, their reactions to things, their choices, their mistakes, the way they deal with issues, the monster inside for some, with others showing love and compassion. -
RTC
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Some of these stories were surprisingly gruesome but I thought this collection was amazing.
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A Killer Collection!
This one is fantastic. I enjoyed all the stories, but my favorites were "Vigil," "He Wears the Lake," and "Culling the Pigs." You can't go wrong with anything by Lutzke. Highly recommended! -
This was my first experience with Chad Lutzke’s writing, and I was just immediately hooked.This short story collection offers a selection of 14 stories with very different tones, themes, and levels of horror. Some of these deal with very difficult concepts like trauma, aging, and abuse.
I have seen many people refer to these stories as quiet horror which I think is accurate for many of these stories that may not be the kind of outright horror one would expect. These stories are very psychological and engaging.
Some of my favorites included:
Predisposition and a Box of Crayons - A woman dealing with her husband’s abandonment of their family takes solace in her child’s imaginary friend at the expense of her son.
A Season for Pruning - This is definitely one of the more extreme horror stories in the book, and I loved it. It deals with a man living on a farm who decides to rid himself of some “unnecessary parts.”
Culling the Pigs - An abused woman murders her husband and flees to a neighbor’s treehouse where she meets a teenage boy who may be another prideful, egotistical man in the mold of her husband.
Vigil - A group of neighbors basically throws a block party while corpses are disinterred in the local spooky, abandoned house. This really takes a look at our profound fascination with crime and the sometimes disrespectful way we engage with victims as a society.
I really enjoyed this collection overall! -
Spinal Remains by Chad Lutzke was such a fun read! I have been reading Chad’s books for a number of years now and he is one of the few authors that I will drop whatever I’m reading to start his new book once it’s released. This collection of stories are all so enjoyable and in some cases terrifying, it was hard to choose a favorite. When it comes down to it though there were two stories I really loved. “Better Than October” is a coming of age story that has such wonderful introspection and depth as well as heart racing uncertainty. I also really enjoyed “Trash Baby Godfather,” a vigilante tale that I would love to see Chad expand. The two old guys from this story could become the basis for a whole series of books and adventures.
What draws me most to Chad’s book is the depth of the characters and the often quiet horror that takes place in their lives. There are facets of hope and optimism which can become horror and despair just as easily, these are hallmarks of real life, and I love that about Chad’s writing. Another solid collection of stories by Chad Lutzke. Don’t miss it, pick this one up. -
Exellent short collection from Chad Lutzke!! Really enjoyed it!
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Excellent as usual. Chad Lutzke remains one of my favorite writers.
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Chad Lutzke is an author I have enjoyed on numerous occasions. His work leans on the more emotional horror with frightening real life situations. The absolute horror that people can inflict on themselves and others.
This short story collection was no different. It just didn't pack as much of a punch with me, and that is entirely because of me as a person. I have difficulty with emotions, and often need the story to develop more to get that same emotion that others can feel quickly. I'm just emotionally stunted LOL.
There were some stories that I found so intriguing and wished that there was more, and others that were just okay. Pretty standard for a story collection. Over all I, personally, just needed more. I still recommend this collection, you are likely to get more out of it than me, plus its a great baby step into the type of writing Lutzke does.
Favorite stories, that I wish Lutzke will create novels/novellas for and expand on
*Cycles: always go with water horror, an element of paranoia and fear 100% was into it
*He Wears The Lake: I am here for the Premise...I need a book like this in the future. Reminded me vaguely of The Vegetarian by Hahn Tang in the exploration of the human psyche.
*Frankenstein Lipstick and Dripping With Tuna: What a name and what a concept. I am so freaking intrigued by hedonophobia. Premise of this was right up my alley...I need more! -
This latest collection of shorts is quintessential Lutzke, focusing on themes he’s had throughout his other works. Stories focus on the fears of aging—from the perspective of a child and the elderly—as well as abandonment and addiction. If you’ve liked anything Chad’s written in the past, you’re bound to thoroughly enjoy this.
There’s no bloat in Spinal Remains and every story is concise, allowing for quick bite-sized reads, although a few shorts had me hungry for more. Two personal standouts are “He Wears the Lake” with its final flare leaving me slack-jawed and “Vigil” being a rather apt finale to his third selection of shorts. Both are worth the price of admission on their own. -
3.5 stars rounded to 4. The diversity of genre, the variety of subject matter, the sheer multiplicity of voices, the differentiated settings, threw me a little bit and made me remove a star. I would have preferred a more tightly woven horror collection. The stories are thoroughly enjoyable, however. Recommended.
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I loved this collection of short stories by Chad Lutzke. He is the king of the killer last line. Every story worked for me but these 5 are standouts...
Holes
A Season For Pruning ⭐ (killer last line!)
Baby Steps ⭐
Culling the Pigs
Vigil ⭐ -
Very good stories. Extremely well done. Lutzke writing just flows naturally, it’s so enjoyable. A very few stories weren’t to my taste but it’s still a very solid anthology.
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An emotionally jolting collection of top-notch horror!
I have read a decent portion of Chad's work, mostly his novellas. Diving into a full collection of his short stories was as satisfying as reading one of his longer works. The stories had a common Chad-esque feel to them, yet each one stood out with its own unique spin on something that all humans would find chilling.
They were all unsettling, some reaching far into the realm of disturbing, which for a true horror fan is delicious and satisfying. A sense of humanity and raw emotion dripped from the words of each of the stories, pulling the reader close to the character and his or her struggles.
I found myself justifying the most extreme behaviour and actions as a direct result of my quickly developed and deep connection to the emotions of the character in question.
I feel like I got a deeper look into the unique creativity of one of my favorite authors than I would expect in a short story collection.
The true horror addict must read this collection. More than once -
When I saw Chad Lutzke had a new book coming out I preordered it right away. A new Lutzke is something to celebrate since I always enjoy his books.
Spinal Remains is a diverse collection of grief horror, body horror, bizarro and slice of life stories. My personal favorites were Holes, Not Fade Away, He Wears the Lake, and Better Than October. There were a few stories I didn’t connect with but all and all a solid collection.
If you haven’t read Lutzke’s work yet this would be a great place to start. Highly recommended! -
Chad Lutzke has become one of my favorites. I think I’ve read just about everything from him. Looking forward to the next Neon Owl. Hurry up Chad!
