LURID LIT is back and so is the Zombie Apocalypse....London style

This week I review DAVID BRINSON'S debut novel, DEAD SOUTH. The dead walk a lot and everywhere...

Enough With The Zombies Already.....

This is another reason I am happy we ditched the television. Cable expects to saturate the market this fall with undead shows. Shows that seek to copy the success of THE WALKING DEAD.

Literature has been oversaturated; in fact we have drowned in zombie tales. We have choked in hurried, hackneyed zombie apocalypse tales. Submission calls thankfully have dwindled but television as television usually does is behind the times and is always beckoning to the brain dead who are also behind the times.

The trope has been used up. The themes are basic and worn.

I just saw the promo for ZNATION.

(Long pause)

Enough already.

FEAST OF THE DEAD Antholgy with PESTS out now!

Happy Halloween.

On the Lighter Side.....A BETTER SHOVEL

I shared this tale with my class. Back to horror with some humor. For those mono-brains who might have a problem with this tale. Understand this is fiction. I would never kill my mother but I certainly would have no issue in taking the life of someone who tortures and/or kills the innocent. Evil has to be stopped not housed and coddled.

Now, back to the story. Happy Early Halloween:

http://threeminuteplasticmag.blogspot.com/2012/02/better-shovel-by-joseph-j-patchen.html

copyright 2011 by Joseph J. Patchen

One of the Best Movie Lines EVER!!!

Tonight serenading me at dinner was the Sci Fi Channel's 2012 filmed film "Rise of the Zombies". This particular apocalyptic romp stars LeVar Burton, Danny Trejo and Mariel Hemingway. Basically this is 'The Walking Dead' but on Alcatraz. Wait; zombies and prison---naw, nothing similar. The Daily News of New York gave it high marks. The Daily News is also good at wrapping fish. Anyway, just before part of the group, led by Mariel Hemingway, and note the irony in her name and lineage, is about to leave the besieged island and prison by zombies swimming over from San Fran Danny Trejo utters the most memorable line in this piece of cine and possibly one of the greatest lines in the history: 'We just sitting like sitting ducks." And I fancy myself a wordsmith? I think thunk thank not!

"The Meandering Dead" A REVIEW

This will be my last statement on "The Walking Dead" for now. I realize I am in a minority as there is so much twitter and internet buzz over this new season; but I have to say episode two did little to dissuade my disappointment. Still no Governor, no Merle, no Michonne, and no Andrea. Personally, I am not happy with the writing, the continuity holes, the conflicting treatment of characters, etc. This story is meandering for me and I don't know if I will stick around for episode three. Just a little rhyme, nothing witty to say; it must be the b-o-r-e-d-o-m. Maybe I am just zombied out. Just like the vampire as a concept was overplayed and bastardized so walk the dead.

THE MEETING in Insomnia Press delayed one month

Publication of my short story THE MEETING has been pushed back from November to December. Issue #3 of Insomnia Press' collection titled AS I LIE DYING has been delayed due to issue #2's delay in appearing in print. It will be worth the wait.

THE WALKING DEAD in a Review

My article concerning AMC's THE WALKING DEAD will appear in SURREAL GROTESQUE'S HALLOWEEN/OCTOBER issue along with my Halloween tale 'Diminishing Sight'. Details to follow.

The Cover for RIGOROUS MORTIS A MORTICIAN'S TALES is unveiled

The Cover for RIGOROUS MORTIS A MORTICIAN'S TALES is unveiled on the Scarlett River Press website. Awesome job. The book with my story 'Mr. Friedenhandler' is coming out very soon.

'The Meeting' to be published by Insomnia Press

Thank you to Insomnia Press who will be publishing by flash fiction story 'The Meeting' in the upcoming issue #3 of their fine horror magazine. AS I DIE LYING will include my short tale of murder, vengeance and an unconventional resolution to a love triangle. Details will follow.

KILL THEM DEAD in YOUR TITLE HERE

I just signed the contract for KILL THEM DEAD's August appearance in YOUR TITLE HERE. More details to come.

'Mr. Friedenhandler' makes RIGOROUS MORTIS: A MORTICIAN'S TALES

Thank you Scarlett River Press, Jo-Anne Russell and Allen Jacoby as zombie horror satire tale 'Mr. Friedenhandler' makes RIGOR MORTIS: A MORTICIAN'S TALES coming out in the fall. This anthology is a collection of horror stories revolving around morticians. Just signed the contract and will have more details as they come available.