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essentialsaltes(Sorry about the inadvertent coincidence of the title with headline news.)
I picked this up when Nightshade Books was having one of its excellent sales. Though I note the book was actually published by the defunct(?) fREAk pRESs. I surmise Nightshade gobbled up fREAk's stock -- it's also curious that I seem to have gotten a copy signed by![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
faustfatale. Bonus! Um, anyway...
I was a bit disappointed. For the most part these stories just did not have the strong sense of place provided by, say, LA Noir & LA Noir 2. Some of the stories could easily have been set anyplace, and others had a thin veneer of Los Angeles about as convincing as a red carpet air kiss. (See what I did there?) Of course, LA was just the pretext. As for the horror, it was the usual hit-or-miss affair. De gustibus and all that. My faves would be the aforementioned Ms Faust's "Bodywork," which riffs off the car-culture in an unusual direction. Stephen Woodworth's "Street Runes" delves into the real meaning behind a gang tag. James Van Pelt's "Parallel Highways" makes a Caltrans detour from the 10 into the Twilight Zone.
I picked this up when Nightshade Books was having one of its excellent sales. Though I note the book was actually published by the defunct(?) fREAk pRESs. I surmise Nightshade gobbled up fREAk's stock -- it's also curious that I seem to have gotten a copy signed by
faustfatale. Bonus! Um, anyway...I was a bit disappointed. For the most part these stories just did not have the strong sense of place provided by, say, LA Noir & LA Noir 2. Some of the stories could easily have been set anyplace, and others had a thin veneer of Los Angeles about as convincing as a red carpet air kiss. (See what I did there?) Of course, LA was just the pretext. As for the horror, it was the usual hit-or-miss affair. De gustibus and all that. My faves would be the aforementioned Ms Faust's "Bodywork," which riffs off the car-culture in an unusual direction. Stephen Woodworth's "Street Runes" delves into the real meaning behind a gang tag. James Van Pelt's "Parallel Highways" makes a Caltrans detour from the 10 into the Twilight Zone.
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Date: 2011-02-23 01:57 am (UTC)For a long time, "Bodywork" could be read for free on her website. But not anymore, as she's trying hard to leave her horror past behind her and focus on noir.
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Date: 2011-02-23 03:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-02-23 04:28 am (UTC)