Crimewave 3 | |||||
edited by Andy Cox | |||||
TTA Press, 130 pages | |||||
A review by Lisa DuMond
Dark realism, mystery, even a splash of speculative fiction -- Crimewave 3 is a perfect outlet for
this flourishing, breakaway school of crime fiction. Gone are the police procedurals, the two-bit crooks, the
hard-boiled dicks; they have a place, but this isn't it.
Instead, you are locked eye-to-eye with the human monsters among us. And it's a chilling experience.
A glance at the table of contents should have you anticipating a helluva read. You won't be disappointed. Trust
me. But, trust no one in Crimewave 3, if you value your life.
First out of the gate is a twisted little number by Chaz Brenchley, another member of the infamous, elite
Murder Squad. "Up the Airy Mountain" -- such a pastoral title for such a deadly tale of murder, deception, and
dependence. Take this opening sentence: "The dead are heavier than they used to be, before they were dead." What
foolish reader would stop there? Follow that first sentence into a story that reads like a poem of pain.
You would expect nothing less than brilliance and a strong dose of horror from the talented minds of James
Lovegrove, Peter Crowther, and Tom Piccirilli. Consider yourself warned and encouraged to dig right in. So to
speak. Their work is always worth the occasional nightmare or bout of paranoia. You'll live through it.
And what would this group be without that feminine touch? Touch of evil, that is. The title of Patricia Tyrrel's
shocker speaks for itself: "Two Legs Or a Piece of an Ear." Any questions? Ceri Jordan bloody foray into
"Playing Mother" has a genuine surprise waiting for readers. I'll be looking for more works from these two. But,
I wouldn't turn my back on them.
Amazingly, prose is not the only allure of Crimewave 3.
In an industry where it sometimes seems artwork is being handed over to amateurs, here are some reasons not to
give up hope. From Mike Bohatch's tantalizing cover art to the shadowy images of David Checkley, Wendy Down,
and Roddy Williams -- the illustrations are an integral part of every story.
Forgive me for playing favourites, but take a long look at Andy Cox's icy femmes fatales.
Not sure if crime fiction has a place under the SF, fantasy and horror umbrella? This issue should clear
up any of those doubts. This is dark realism at its best, and something tells me it is an infusion of new ideas
that will change our perceptions.
Open wide the doors of our precious genre.
In between reviews and interviews, Lisa DuMond writes science fiction and humour. DARKERS, her latest novel, will be published in early 2000 by Hard Shell Word Factory. She has also written for BOOKPAGE and PUBLISHERS WEEKLY. Her articles and short stories are all over the map. You can check out Lisa and her work at her website hikeeba!. |
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