Fishy-Fleshed: a Scata novel

by Carlton Mellick III

Fishy-fleshed is an illustrated collection of thought-logs from a child-like man living in the cartoonish future world of Ocean City, so technologically advanced that everyone possesses the ability to walk on water, cure diseases, clone food, and raise the dead . . . an entire civilization of Messiahs. When a team of researchers travel back in time to the days of the Real Messiah, they discover the past is a lot different than they imagined. It is an illogical flatland lacking in dimension and color, a sick-scape of crispy squid people wandering the desert for no apparent reason. Part science-fiction parody, part nightmarish absurdism, Fishy-fleshed is likely to leave a green-gray taste in your mouth.

This volume includes both the English translation and the original Ywellish language text.

Genres: Bizarro Fiction, Horror, Science Fiction, Zombies

247 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2004

About the author

Carlton Mellick III (July 2, 1977, Phoenix, Arizona) is an American author currently residing in Portland, Oregon. He calls his style of writing "avant-punk," and is currently one of the leading authors in the recent 'Bizarro' movement in underground literature[citation needed] with Steve Aylett, Chris Genoa and D. Harlan Wilson.

Mellick's work has been described as a combination of trashy schlock sci-fi/horror and postmodern literary art. His novels explore surreal versions of earth in contemporary society and imagined futures, commonly focusing on social absurdities and satire.

Carlton Mellick III started writing at the age of ten and completed twelve novels by the age of eighteen. Only one of these early novels, "Electric Jesus Corpse", ever made it to print.

He is best known for his first novel Satan Burger and its sequel Punk Land. Satan Burger was translated into Russian and published by Ultra Culture in 2005. It was part of a four book series called Brave New World, which also featured Virtual Light by William Gibson, City Come A Walkin by John Shirley, and Tea from an Empty Cup by Pat Cadigan.

In the late 90's, he formed a collective for offbeat authors which included D. Harlan Wilson, Kevin L. Donihe, Vincent Sakowski, among others, and the publishing company Eraserhead Press. This scene evolved into the Bizarro fiction movement in 2005.

In addition to writing, Mellick is an artist and musician.

Reviews

[Rich Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just happened upon a copy of Carlton Mellick III's "Fishy-Fleshed." It was the first novel of CM3's work that I've read and I was glad I chose it - or did it choose me? Anyway, Fishy-Fleshed takes place in a future where the population has exploded thanks to scientists and doctors being able to cure all known diseases. In a world where people usually only die of old age, society must extend its boundaries out to sea and build cities and towns on the ocean surface, which is where Mellick sets his novel. But science has also dispelled many of the myths and legends of mankind, things that make our differing cultures and lifestyles so interesting, thus resulting in a rather bleak and boring existence for the inhabitants of "Ocean City." Some people, like the main character Cocoan (which translates to 'Somebody who kills the snails'), withdraws into himself, a self-preservation technique that he credits to his refusal to be treated for Attention Deficit Disorder; while others seek ways to travel into the past to investigate ancient mysteries like the existence of Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Conflict arises when Cocoan's wife drags him along on such a time-travel journey and the reader is treated to symbolic parallels to the Virgin birth, like can clones conceive? Without giving anything away about this imaginative journey into bizarro science-fiction/fantasy, suffice it to say, we end up learning whether Cocoan's method of self-preservation will perpetuate the endangered human race. Or did I just read too much into this? Regardless, I highly recommend "Fishy-Fleshed" to established fans of the bizarro genre and to new readers who are curious about what bizarro fiction has to offer.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aside from 'Satan Burger,' this is the only thing I have read from CM3. Being a total weird-o, I absolutely loved it, as I did 'Satan Burger.' This book is very dystopian in general, which makes me love it even more. There are illustrations throughout that are mind blowingly creative. Also, Mellick created his own language for this book, which is some very strange typewritery looking writing. Any writer that is dedicated enough to create his own language for the plotline of a novella is fucking awesome to me! This is great for those looking for a quick, yet very enthralling, read. I don't wanna say much about the plot ('cause I can't without spoilers); just read the synopsis, and if it sounds interesting to you, BUY IT!!!! You WON'T be disappointed...

[Alex | | findingmontauk1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe one of the most cerebral Mellick books I've read. I didn't quite know what was going on a lot of the time, but I dug it. The concept was weird and I couldn't stop myself! 3.5 stars

[William Bigelow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This avant-garde novella was a quick and amusing read. Mellick's prose in this one had some Richard Brautigan vibes at many points in the book. (I may need to start a rereading binge of RB soon!)

[R.A. Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this story, fun concept, some intriguing writing, and the final parts really pick up steam.

The version I got had HUGE writing, like, maybe 50 words a page or something, so being 240 pages long was almost a trick, it could probably have been 80 pages long in a reasonable sized font. Not that I really minded, the big writing just meant that I felt like a success for blitzing through a 240 page book.

As with all the Mellick books I have read, there is a strong exploration of humanity's metaphysical concepts involving religion, love, identity and the such. It is always dealt with in a playful manner, but with enough meat that if you really wanted to talk about it philosophically, you could use a Mellick book as a source text for your argument and I personally wouldn't bat an eye.

The actual plot develops speed as it progresses, with the final part belting along. I imagine that anybody who reads this book will find themselves quite happy to read to the end, it reads fast, it reads intelligently, it reads fun.

I found an affinity for the illustrated thoughts Mellick spreads through the book too, they remind me of the type of doodle I covered my school books in, the ineffable sense inherent in genius... or something.

Anyway, check it out, it just got republished as an eraserhead book.

[Leila Anani · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first 35 pages of this are unreadable jibberish - purportedly the original Ywellish text of which the rest of the novel is a translation - While I can see why it's done like this, to distance the reader and to show the limitations of language I think that is a tad too pretentious.

Once we get into the text itself its stream of consciousness and not all of it coherent either "... I drink my oil-sweat juice in a land of raisins in the sun..." If it wasn't for the fact that I love Carlton Mellick III and the lovecraft-y illustrations I might seriously have considered giving up at this point - however I persevered and was actually glad I did because once the story kicks in this stabilises a bit and becomes readable.

We're in the future where "people" not only walk on water, but actually live on its surface, have cured disease and conquered death. Whyrie, the wife of our hapless hero is a scientist who has created a time machine and a group of seven including Cocoan and Whyrie time travel back in time to see if Jesus is in fact another time traveller from their own time.

In true Mellick style the result involves cyborgs, clones and exploding heads....

So this is David Cronenberg meets Virginia Woolf meets Bladerunner - This sounds a lot cooler than it actually is, especially with the turgid start, however the imagination is staggering and like Mellick's other stuff it is pure nightmare in written form - not my favourite from him by any means - it is a bit pretentious and over ambitious but still so unlike most anything else out there to be a rollercoaster of a read.

I also ought to give a big thumbs up to Jonathan Raya's gorgeous cover art which fits this to perfection.

[Shane · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the cover of this book I assumed it would be scary, or at least gross. It wasn't either, but I still liked it. I really thought the drawing symbolizing ideas, tastes, smells etc... was brilliant, even if all the drawings looked kinda like doodles and kinda the same. The absurd setting and plot were fun. My wife hated it at first but I told her to just hold on a little longer and after the first few chapters she started to like it.

Not sure who I would recommend this to, I'm pretty sure it's a love hate thing, so you just have to try it.

[Ben · Rating 2 out of 5]

I guess it had to happen eventually.
For the last two months I have been receiving CM3's books almost daily from amazon. Each one I have enjoyed as much as the last until this one. I normally enjoy a fresh new take on theology but for whatever reason this one just never clicked with me. Oh well.. on to The Big Meat!

[Wenerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is it about this story? It has all the tropes of early CM3 with weird/ strange outsider narrator with a dominating partner and bizarre religious themes but something about it really connected. Maybe I see too much of myself in the main character and maybe that says something I don’t want to think to deeply about.

[Samaire Wynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different. I'm left with so many questions. I'm glad I read it, though.
Very, very early Mellick-y, for sure.

[Gary Mc · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love CM III but this was one of the first books I didn't really enjoy.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Oh my Glod”

[Shane Sinsapaugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my 7th read for the CMIII full Bibliography read a thon I’m doing. It’s decent. It continues the trend of Jesus being mentioned in a CMIII book, for the concept of this one is time travel to go back in time to prove that Jesus was just someone from their time period using all their technology and making the primitive people believe in magic. It’s full of chaos and strangeness like all his other books.

It’s good.

Don’t have a quote for this one.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one felt anti-climactic after I initially read it, ergo I rated it 3☆s, but as I have reflected back on it it has gone up a ☆. The concept is surreal and the landscape is posthuman, and it builds off of the concepts in CM3's first novel (ELECTRIC JESUS CORPSE) in an inhuman humane way. It's almost as good as UGLY HEAVEN or RAZORWIRE PUBIC HAIR, but it is not even in the same league as SATAN BURGER. Still a great read though, especially if you can sit and percolate on it.

[Nihil · Rating 5 out of 5]

my first Mellick book, and very much not the last. quick, awesome read.