Stephen King’s Blockade Billy

by: RFR Casket Crew Denise

Stephen King’s done it again with short story Blockade Billy and  Morality. Even though these two stories are short, they still have all the elements that Stephen King brings to his work.

Blockade Billy is narrated by George Grantham, a third base coach for The Titians. William Blakey or Blockade Billy was a catcher for the Davenport Corn Huskers before he was called up to the majors when The Titians lost two catchers during spring training. Catchers should be built like fire plugs.

Blockade Billy is tall and slender although his thighs and butt are more muscular. To the third base coach,  he looks like broken ribs just waiting to happen. But the legend of Blockade Billy began on opening day.

You couldn’t say he called a good game because he didn’t call it. The Dew did that but the first pitch to Frank Milezone was a curve and the kid caught it just fine. Not only that, though, it was just a cunt outside and I never saw a catcher pull one back so fast, not even Yogi. Ump called strike one and it was off to the races.

Blockade Billy manages to win the opening game even though there was some controversy. And like the narrator relates about the opening game day, this story is off to the races. Blockade Billy is a great sport story but there’s an underlining theme – that’s what makes it a really good suspense story. I like how Stephen King presents this story – the author interviewing the narrator as if the story was nonfiction.

I bought the audio book of Blockade Billy so I also got an extra story, Morality. Since I didn’t flip through the print version of this book, I don’t if Morality is included. With that said, I’m not going to say much about it except to say…it’s an excellent griping and suspenseful story that compliments the first.

Next time I’ll be taking a look at issue 2 of American Vampire. This a comic book series written by Scott Synder and Stephen King. I can’t wait to find out what happens to Miss Pearl Jones and Skinner Sweet.

Dark Side of the Moon by Sherrilyn Kenyon

by: RFR Casket Crew Denise

Do you like action? Mystery? Fantasy and all things supernatural? What about a little romance? Look no further. Dark Side of the Moon by Sherrilyn Kenyon combines all the above plus a lot more. Is your mouth watering?

You don’t knock on the devil’s door, boys, unless you want him to answer.

Maybe it’s not watering yet, but take a gander at the opening and it just might. The air whispered with psychic electricity. It was a sensation that could only be felt by a particular nonhuman sect or by humans with highly developed senses.

Ravyn Kontis was most definitely not human. He’d been born into a world of nocturnal predators who commanded the hidden magicks of the earth – who ruled in darker arts – and he had died as one of their toughest warriors.

By the hand of his own brother. Now Ravyn walked the earth as something else. Something soulless. Something ferocious and even deadlier than what he’d been before. There was no heart left inside him. No pity or compassion.

You’ve just entered the world of the Dark Hunters. Now stay with here and I’ll make a connection as to who the Dark Hunters are.

Long ago, Apollo (Greek Mythology) created a race called the Apollite to dominate the human race. It if weren’t for a few Apollites, they would have. But a few dare to kill Apollo’s mistress and son, so he cursed the race. They were doomed to die a horrific death on their 27th birthday. A death that took all day. They would have all died if Apollymi (Atlantian Mythology) had not shown the Apollites how to take in human souls as to elongate their lives. And thus were born the Daimons who preyed on humans to sustain their existents. Now Dark Hunter were men who sold their souls to Artemis to exact vengeance upon those who who had caused their untimely deaths. In return for selling their souls, they were sworn into a Artemis’ service and sworn to protect humans from Daimons. And to us humans, these Apollites, Daimons and Dark Hunters all look like….vampires.

The world you know just got ugly. You just stumbled into a war that your kind isn’t suppose to know is happening. Forget everything you thought you knew about physics and science and now imagine a world where mankind is nothing but food to a whole race of people that want to subjugate you. Susan Michaels was once the hottest reporter in Seattle until a major scandal ruined her life and left her writing stories about alien babies and Elvis sightings. Life as she once knew it is over, or so she thinks. She gets a lead on a story that could salvage her career. She heads to the local animal shelter expecting a hot news tip, which she gets in the form of a major police cover-up and ends up being talked into adopting a cat that she’s not only allergic to but who claims to be an immortal vampire slayer. But as Susan’s drawn into Ravyn’s dark and dangerous world, she comes to realize that there’s a lot at stake than a defunct career.

Ravyn’s life was shattered over four hundred years ago when he mistakenly trusted the wrong human with the truth of his existence. He lost his family, his honor and his life. Now, in order to save Seattle, he’s forced to confront that nightmare all over again and trust another woman with the secret that could destroy him.

I have read the majority of Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunter series. They are entertaining and engaging. What I like most about them is the consistency in the anthology of her world. Her characters pop in and out of all her books and their story lines remain in tact. So if you like fantasy, supernatural oddities and mythology rolled up in a nice neat package, then check out Dark Side of the Moon and all the other books in the Dark Hunter series. I’m sure I’ll be getting around to a few more before it’s all said and done.

RFR Short Story Winner: The Darkness by Deby Feeley

by: RFR Casket Crew Denise

Greeting Deadites,

It’s time to reveal the big secret. I’ve been bringing you reviews of the latest horror, suspense and supernatural thrillers from some of our generations best authors. But this time I thought I would switch it up a little. So, this time I will not be reviewing anything. This time I will be featuring a short story.

I went to the MySpace forums last week and issued a challenge to some of those who hang out in the Literature forum and who regularly have contest on their short stories. My challenge was to write a short horror story to be feature here at RFR. The winner of that contest was Deby Feeley.

Ironically Deby and I have been friends for some years. And no deadites, the contest was not rig because I asked for some outside help in judging the stories. Deby’s story was deemed to be the best.

Deby and I are ghoul friends; a title that Deby came up with. We hang out at each other’s house, watch horror movies and eat pizza. We’ve been doing this for years too, so we know our horror stories. So with permission from Deby, here is her short story. I hope you enjoy it as much as the judges did.

THE DARKNESS by Deby Feeley
“Oh, for God’s sake, here we go again!” I follow Miranda as she dashes into the dark closet, huddles in the back corner behind some old coats, and rocks her body back and forth in a twisted fetal position. She’s sobbing again, a habbit I find extremely disgusting. I let her gush for a moment and ask, “Are you quite finished?”

“Leave me alone, leave me alone. I just can’t do it anymore. Nobody loves me. I’m useless…why can’t I just die?” I can see her swollen face half covered with wet sticky hair reflected in an old mirror on the closet floor. It is eerily lit by the beam of light coming in through the open closet door.

Ahhhhhh, theatrics. I’m good at this game. “Well,” I tell her, “if you loose about 100 pounds and slap a little makeup on your face to cover those zits and run a brush through your hair, you might just be able to manage to get out there and DO something with your life you pig! How about it, eh? Just get off your FAT ASS, get out of this closet and GET A LIFE!!!”

Her sobs turn into high-pitched screams. “I hate you, I hate you, I HATE YOU!!!” she screams at me and I smile. Now we’re rolling. I bask in her anger and luxuriate in her confusion. I need her to need me. She needs me to always tell her the truth. Who else will? All of her friends lie to her. Her family is nothing but a pit of seething vipers, slithering around ready to strike. She wouldn’t know how to do anything if it weren’t for me. I am the one who puts up with her. I am the one who keeps her in her place…you’d think she might appreciate all I do for her but no. She’s yelling that she hates me again. I toss a knife down between her feet. I know I’m playing with fire now, but we’ve been through this before. Just a little game of chicken to make her think a bit. No big deal.

Miranda stares at the knife, gently lifts it and makes a small cut from her thumb knuckle to her wrist. “Is this what you were hoping for?” she asks me. I can feel her demeanor shift to something that feels like defeat. She isn’t screaming any more, but she’s still huddled in the corner watching the pool of blood grow. I hear her praying for God to help her. She’s asking him why he’s letting her do this.

I roll my eyes. “God can’t hear you,” I whisper in her ear. “Do you think he’s going to listen to you as long as you keep me around?” I gently lift her hand to my mouth and suck the warm blood from the wound. It isn’t a fatal wound. She does this sometimes to balance out the pain or so I have heard her tell her doctor. She has said in the past that I’m dangerous for her, but here I am, helping her feel better. As long as she wants me with her, I will stay because I am her darkness and I will survive as long as she keeps feeding me.

The Rotting End

As I said, deadites, I really hope you enjoyed Deby’s story. And if you would like to have a short story feature here at RFR Podcast, please send me an e-mail at: denise @ rfrpodcast.com with the details. Until next time, sit back, relax and rot away.

American Vampire: Issue One

by: RFR Casket Crew Denise

Greetings Deadites,

I think I was about 8 years-old when I began reading comic books. I started out reading Archie and Jughead before moving on to the harder stuff. But whether it was Archie or Wolverine, there was always two things I looked for. The first was a really great story. The second, really good artwork.

As I got older, I stopped reading comics because everyone thought I had outgrown them. I was also told they were for little kids. To fill the void, I switched to graphic novels. Once again, I was looking for really great stories and artwork. But at the time, even the graphic novels seemed to target a younger audience.

Luckily over the past ten years, the tide started to turn to the older target audience and I my heart soared knowing that when I picked up a comic book, I wasn’t going to be looking at something that was drawn for young children.

One thing I’ve always said is it doesn’t matter what medium is used to tell a great story. That is the one thing that will stand out above everything else. Along with the story, the artwork has to look great. And since graduating from college with a double major in English and Journalism and as a writer, I know it takes just as much work to write comic books and graphic novels as it does writing the next great horror classic.

American Vampire is a comic book series that bridges great artwork and a really great storyline. And to top all of this, this comic book series has the great Stephen King’s input and artistry. And I think the icing on the cake, so to speak, is that it is a series about a classic horror icon – vampires.

The first issue of American Vampire was released in March 2010. And has two stories within its pages although I suspect there will be some cross over. The first story is titled Big Break and written by Scott Snyder. The story takes place in 1925 and follows the character Pearl Jones. She is a young girl trying to break into the movies. She’s had some success but is still waiting for the big moment. Just when she thinks she might have gotten the chance to stand in the spotlight, life throws her a curve ball.

The second story is titled Bad Blood written by Stephen King. Set in 1880, it tells the story of Skinner Sweet. Nope, he’s not a very nice guy. In face when we first meet Sweet, he’s in handcuffs and being run out on the rails and back to New Mexico to stand “trial” for his crime spree. He doesn’t quite make it and like Miss Pearl Jones, his life is about to take a major detour.

Both stories start with a bang and hold my attention for start to finish. I’m looking forward to following these stories and the characters. So stay tuned each month for an update on Sweet Skinner and Miss Pearl Jones. Oh, and I must add, the artist for both stories is Rafael Albuquerque. He does an absolutely fantastic job capturing a raw picture of both characters.

And just one final thought. I would like to give a big shout out to David who works at Lone Star Comics in south Fort Worth. He helped me track down this comic book when I thought I never would be able to do so. As it turns out, David is part of the Deadite Army, so thanks David for your help.

Health and Safety in the Haunt Industry

by: RFR Casket Crew Jigsaw Jim

Greetings Film Fiends and Deadites,

You know me as the film reviewer here on Rotting Flesh Radio (and a not very good one at that). When I’m not practicing Hoodoo and black magick, I work in the emergency medical field as an EMT trainer/supervisor. I am going to be posting regular segments on Health and Safety specific to the Haunt Industry.

As conventions are well underway and everyone is planning for the upcoming Haunt season, one thing that often gets overlooked is safety and medical preparedness. As a caveat, the information I post will in no way take the place of professional instruction (first aid/CPR) that you and many of your staff should enroll in. On the contrary, it will be an adjunct on specific concerns for the haunt industry.

For example:
What to do if an actor or patron gets sick or injured?

What to do if a patron starts seizing due to strobe lights?

How to “safely” evacuate your attraction and have an evacuation plan.

There will be a myriad of topics covered and links for training that I encourage everyone to take.

Lets make this season a truly scary (and safe) one!

Rotting Flesh Radio Show #215: Robert Carradine Stops in, East Coast Haunt Club, Haunt News and more…

SHOW NOTES FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 30, 2010 SHOW #215

LISTEN NOW
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THIS WEEK’S SHOW NOTES:
Let’s get Geek and Haunt Nerdy this week as we close out the month with none other than ROBERT CARRADINE stopping in to the show! Robert best known as one of the nerds in Revenge of the Nerds will be stopping in along with other Horror Classic Icons as CAROLINE MONROW and MARTINE BOSTWICK as RFR’s Casket Crew Dog Soldier takes to the floor and brings them to you live.

In addition we have Katie Lane back with this weeks nuts nad bolts of the Darksyde Acres Haunted Attraction in Haunting By The Numbers and Storm is here with In A Haunt Minute. And for those Haunters getting the itch for the East Coast Haunt Gathering next weekend Storm is bringing you a pre-view of what to expect and also one of the organizers Glen to discuss the East Coast Haunt Gathering for those of you new to it.

This week in Haunt Industry News we have information covering a Haunt Auction in Utah, Midnight Syndicate, Fright Controls, Haunt Visions, Fright Catalog, Oblivion Haunted House, Folklore Haunted Attraction, The Pirates of Emerson, Charlotte Zombie Walk, Occasion Clown Crawl, Haunted Attraction Magazine, Haunted House Supplies, Dark Raven, Fright Night Film Fest, Hellraiser, Halloween Franchise, Children of the Corn, Neca, Freddy Gloves, Drum Barrels, The Dead Matter, Midwest Haunters Convention, East Coast Haunt Gathering, and more!

RFR Casket Crew Chuck is back with the Extra Dead Video Horror Game Review and there is another Listener Awarded the Screamline Studios Graverobbing Giveaway and some Twisted Tunes Spinning from your Grave!

So all you Fright Freaks, Haunters and Halloween Junkies, you can…
Sit Back, Relax and Rot Away to Rotting Flesh Radio!

THIS WEEK’S SHOW: LISTEN NOW BELOW OR
Right Click, Save Link/Target As To This Link: http://rfrpodcast.com/RFR_7_30_2010.mp3
(saves it as an m3 to your computer)

PAST SHOWS:
RFR 7-16-2010 Live at Heavy Rebel Weekender
RFR 7-9-2010 w/Deneen Melody & Comic Book Divas
RFR 7-2-2010 Celebrate the 4th w/RFR
RFR 6-25-2010 RFR Reborn with MHC Coverage
RFR 5-14-2010 with Alex Vincent and RA Mihaioff
RFR 5-7-2010 LIVE from HAuNTcon 2010
RFR 4-30-2010 RFR Crew Heads out to 3 Cons at Once
RFR 4-23-2010 w/Prop Master Paul Byers
RFR 4-9-2010 Coverage of Transworld & Horrorhound
RFR 3-26-2010 with G Tom Mac
RFR 3-19-2010 LIVE from Monstermania w/Eric Roberts and more
RFR 3-12-2010 with Trick or Treat Studios
RFR 3-5-2010 Haunting Scares Into March
RFR 2-12-2010 with Midwest Haunters Convention
RFR 2-5-2010 OUR 200TH SHOW! RFR:The Musical
RFR 1-29-2010 with The Mortician and Casket Crew
RFR 1-22-2010 with Brian Lashchuck of Beyond the Grave Prod.
RFR 1-15-2010 with Kevin Alvey of Gore Galore
RFR 1-8-2010 with RFR Ringing in 2010
RFR 12-18-2009 with Oderus Ungerus of Gwar
RFR 11-27-2009 with Spookywoods Haunted Attraction
RFR 11-20-2009 with Ben Armstrong of Netherworld
RFR 11-13-2009 with Scream Queen Brooke Lewis
RFR 10-30-2009 LIVE at Hundred Acres Manor
RFR 10-23-2009 with ROBERT ENGLUND (Freddy Krueger)
RFR 10-16-2009 LIVE from Goatman Hollow Haunt Experience
RFR 10-9-2009 LIVE from Frightmares at Buck Hill
RFR 10-2-2009 with Bush Gardens Howl-O-Scream
RFR 9-25-2009 with Terror Behind the Walls & Toxic Toons
RFR 9-18-2009 with Los Angeles Haunted Hayride
RFR 9-4-2009 with Pale Night Productions
RFR 8-28-2009 with TVTV Transylvania Television
RFR 8-21-2009 with Lexington’s Scream Park
RFR 8-14-2009 with Screaming Zombie Energy Drink
RFR 8-7-2009 with DEREK MEARS (Jason Vorhees 2009)

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Fried Green Zombies by John Allen

by: RFR Casket Crew Denise

Ahhhh…Deadites, there’s nothing like a good zombie book and red necks. What? Red necks. Yep, just some good ol’ boys doing what good ol’ boys do – and fighting zombies in the sleepy little town of Bovina, Mississppi.

Our heroes, Harry and Chet, start out spending the day drinking beer and are headed for their favorite pond to due a little frog gigging as they drive down Nine Mile Cutoff.

Nine Mile Cutoff is an aptly named stretch of dusty gravel road winding through a town so small it lacks both a post office or a dot on the map. What it cuts off no one has ever figured out though it does connect to two more rural black top roads. Four or five little churches use to call the cut off home but they and their small cemeteries have remained unused for the last half century became hidden and forgotten as the weeds and brush took back over.

Harry and Chet have no cares since they were fired from Allco Construction.

Now Rocky Bayou is an aptly named hunting camp. 2000 acres of deep ravines, bayou brush, ponds, thick forest and open fields sliced neatly in half by Rocky Springs which ultimately feeds the Big Black River which ultimately feeds the Mississippi River. The camp is bounded by the interstate on the north, Hwy 80 to the south, a cattle pasture to the west and more private lands to the east. Somewhere deep inside, a pond was missing and all the critters were either flashed boiled or animized. At the center of the empty pond was a little metal ball no bigger than a large marble. It was cracked and leaking. A drop of something oozed out slowly. Something so black that light seemed to fall into it and get lost. It fell out of the little metal ball and sank into the mud. Somewhere, a few feet below the former bottom of the pond, something stirred.

Speeding down Nine Mile Cutoff, Harry and Chet stumble upon Bob, the mysterious, bushy, burqa-clad, non-English speaking beauty just standing in the middle of the road. Then all hell breaks loose. They discover their favorite pond is missing. They’re chased by truck driving zombies, dirty cops, UFOs and other nasties. But they’re not alone. They’re aided by Uncle Crank, who tries to feed them zombie chicken, Clay, a classic computer nerd and a space babe who gets naked anytime someone turns out the lights.

I had fun with this story maybe because I related to these characters. Hell, I know these guys. FRIED GREEN ZOMBIES by John Allen has an unique blend of action and humor. While I originally thought the heroes were idiots, they were actually quite smart, especially when delivering lines like, “You heard something. I heard something. It’s dark. It’s creepy. Let’s get goin’. Now!” They certainly won’t make the cut for Ghost Hunters Academy, but that’s probably not a bad thing.

There is a lot going on in this story; zombies, dirty police officers, UFOs and spaces babes. I was unsure how they would all relate but John Allen does a nice job introducing these characters, developing them and tying up all the loose ends. And Harry and Chet survive the whole ordeal…or do they?

Although the story starts slow and I had some trouble keeping focused and interested, I was pleasantly surprised by the ending. For those zombie fans out there, I think they will definitely enjoy the story. As for me, even though I enjoyed Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls more than Fried Green Zombies, I found myself laughing at some of the red neck humor.

Next week, Deadites, I’m going to be looking at a graphic comic book series. I’m really excited about this series since it’s a new one that has the King’s touch. That’s Stephen, not Elvis. However, if there’s a book, graphic novel or anything else that you find interested but not sure if you want to lay out the bucks for it without someone giving you the green light, let me know and I will give you my honest review.

Until then, Sit Back, Relax and Rot Away…