The BHF Book of Horror Stories Book 12 Review: Part 2

Dunrotten'

Simon J.Ballard

Something is causing a massive stink on the street where Steve and Peter live. A couple embarking in a May to December relationship where Peter the older party is starting to notice some of the incompatibility.

I'm glad I could smell this story is the first thing I would say. Ballard (or should I say J. Ballard, I'll say Ballard and probably be corrected later) has rendered a tale that evokes the senses to elicit nausea and then I would imagine vomiting.

That's a good thing though. Seriously, the main theme carried within this story is rot, decay and the powers of attraction. I fully experienced the stench of this one thanks to living descriptions of the rotting dead flesh. The bugs that moved and thrived on decomposition and of course the description of something smelling of eggs and shit sets off your gag reflex.

The attraction element is seen within Peter and Steve’s own relationship. Their noss pot neighbours curtain twitching, how the public behave to what happens in the story. And finally the attraction insects and vermin have to decay and as you will find out, people.

This story made me feel sick and that's great. Nice work Mr.Ballard.


Softflesh, Cold Blood

Jed Vespers

This book has Nigel Farrage on the cover and people could say the cover does not relate to this books content. HOWEVER, this story actually seems to tie in to Farrage frog face.
Written in the format of diary entries or possibly a data log from a mid-distant dystopia. We follow Phillipa Juliet Tranters final act of living starting of her unnerving death in an execution chamber that has disturbing echos of the holocaust to inception of all the other dark events to brought her to her demise.

The reverse technique is effective with the opening entry a sight of hell that could be possible in our own nation. It seemed to me that try as I might in searching for a trigger point where things for Phillipa could have been different, it was absent.

There seemed to be a bigger point being made here aside from sexual violence and injustice. Something more inline with fate and how it can be sealed when your environment is anti-human, anti-empathy.

Mr.Vespers that opening entry will stay with me for a while. Effective and traumatising story.


The Critic

Richard Freeman

Mori Hediki is a feared food critic who twins his work with being a massive twat. Single handedly destroying restaurants around the world based on his sadistic whim and inability to wield power responsibly.

I felt the setting of this story and the different cultural landscape of Freemans tale refreshing. Set in Japan and focussing on Japanese restaurants. The story added variety to the BHF collection.

After gleefully ruining yet another restaurant, despite enjoying the meal he was critiquing Mori sets out on his way. The a familiar scent catches his nostrils and his is drawn toward a certain eatery that he did not know existed.

I must say right now that unlike Ballads story this is a tale I DID want to smell. I loved the descriptions of the various dishes Hediki is served and I could help but start imagining them with my stomach. Hediki being a pompous prick is written effectively here and I didn't give him the benefit of the doubt. You'll see if the story itself has more mercy on him than I when you read it.

Good delivery here from Richard Freeman.