DJStories: The Best of David J. Schow

Schow (DJSturbia) takes a nightmarish trip down memory lane with this compilation of stories chosen from nearly 40 years of writing horror. From the very first story, Schow’s distorted vision yanks the reader into unexpected and bewildering places. In “Coming to a Theatre Near You,” Schow riffs on a favorite theme: old movies and the perils found in tatty theaters. In “The Shaft,” drug dealing gone awry slams into nauseating terror. Splatterpunk—a subgenre Schow helped to create—is heavily and messily represented in “Jerry’s Kids Meet Wormboy,” “Pick Me Up,” and “Bad Guy Hats.” Those who prefer less gore and more humor will appreciate “Last Call for the Sons of Shock,” which portrays vintage movie monsters Frankenstein, Dracula, and the Wolfman as over-the-hill film stars shooting the breeze. No matter which form of horror he creates, Schow is a master of turning words into disturbing images of death, destruction, and mental mayhem. Only readers with strong stomachs need apply. (Apr.)