Speedloader by Snubnose Press
I don’t know how to pray but I close my eyes and ask God for help anyway. God doesn’t answer, doesn’t even send happy thoughts, just reruns of nightmares. – “Plastic Soldiers”
Snubnose Press is the new e-publishing arm of Spinetingler Magazine, and they’ve come roaring out the gate with their first offering, Speedloader.
Edited by Sandra Ruttan and Brian Lindenmuth, Speedloader is a collection of six hard hitting crime fiction stories from an impressive group of authors.
In You Dirty Rat by Nigel Bird a powerful combination of festering guilt and a quest for justice drives a soldier to take action years after a series of tragic events occurred on the battlefield.
Mori Obscura by Nik Korpon and Herniated Roots by Richard Thomas both use addiction and what its overpowering pull can do to a man as their backdrop.
Crash & Burn by Jonathan Woods is an amazingly intricate story for short fiction, one which has the plans for revenge of several players unfolding on a collision course of epic proportions.
Classic Matthew C. Funk, Cuffs is a New Orleans set tale of mistaken identity – or is it? – that starts off with a feeling of confusion which quickly develops into an increasing sense of dread.
And while those five stories are all outstanding, Plastic Soldiers by W.D. County absolutely leveled me. Told through the eyes of a kidnapped ten year old boy, Plastic Soldiers showcases both the worst and best that the human soul is capable of. County manages to pack a novel’s worth of pain and desperation and hope into five of the most compelling pages you will ever read. This was the first story of County’s that I’ve read, but it damn sure won’t be the last. You can read County’s “Dancing With Myself” interview on Nigel Bird’s blog to learn more about him.
Interesting note: Boden Steiner, who did the cover art for Speedloader, created an alternate version based on the story “Plastic Soldiers.” His vision is as powerful as the story itself.
Speedloader is available from Snubnose Press for only $0.99.
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I’m with you guys all the way. It might be tough for Spinetingler in next year’s awards – ‘Plastic Soldiers’ surely deserves a spot, but can you bat for your own side? Sure does need to be sent out for prizes. And the collection as a whole is really special.
Naomi’s advice on popping over to the Priscilla link is very sound (as always).
Thanks Elizabeth.
Man, am I out of the loop. Sarah mentioned this to me this morinng. I just ordered it and can probably get to a few of these stories for review over the next several week. I’m inundated with reading for school, writing for school, writing for me, blog wars and my own dopey blog Okay, it was just ordered so I’m temporarily back in the loop. Now if I could figure out this new Google thing MF me
What is stunning from our perspective is that Spinetingler was the first to publish Dave County. I can’t wait to see what his longer fiction looks like.
Well, no surprise you guys were on top of it. But, yes, considering the two I’ve read are both friggin amazing it is surprising he’s not been published anywhere else or snapped up for a contract.
PLASTIC SOLDIERS is, as you say, a leveler. Incredible work, and I look forward to more from WD County. He has one other story that I’m aware of, which you MUST read, at Spinetingler. It’s called MY NAME IS PRISCILLA.
Holy hell, another gut punch. Go read it now, people!
Looking forward to reading this one!