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Burnt Tongues
Transgressive fiction authors write stories some are afraid to tell. Stories with taboo subjects, unique voices, shocking images—nothing safe or dry.
Burnt Tongues is a collection of transgressive stories selected by a rigorous nomination and vetting process and hand-selected by Chuck Palahniuk, author of Fight Club, as the best of The Cult workshop, his official fan website.
These stories run the gamut from horrific and fantastic to humorous and touching, but each leaves a lasting impression. Some may say even a scar.
Also includes: The Power of Persisting: An Introduction by Chuck Palahniuk, and from the Editors: The Genesis of Burnt Tongues by Dennis Widmyer and Richard Thomas.
Table of Contents:
Live This Down by Neil Krolicki
Charlie by Chris Lewis Carter
Paper by Gayle Towell
Mating Calls by Tony Liebhard
Melody by Michael De Vito, Jr.
F for Fake by Tyler Jones
Mind and Soldier by Phil Jourdan
Ingredients by Richard Lemmer
The Line Forms on the Right by Amanda Gowin
A Vodka Kind of Girl by Matt Egan
Gasoline by Fred Venturini
Dietary by Brandon Tietz
Invisible Graffiti by Adam Skorupskas
Bike by Bryan Howie
Heavier Petting by Brien Piechos
Engines, O-Rings, and Astronauts by Jason M. Fylan
Lemming by Terence James Eeles
The Routine by Keith Buie
Survived by Gus Moreno
Zombie Whorehouse by Daniel W. Broallt
Burnt Tongues is a collection of transgressive stories selected by a rigorous nomination and vetting process and hand-selected by Chuck Palahniuk, author of Fight Club, as the best of The Cult workshop, his official fan website.
These stories run the gamut from horrific and fantastic to humorous and touching, but each leaves a lasting impression. Some may say even a scar.
Also includes: The Power of Persisting: An Introduction by Chuck Palahniuk, and from the Editors: The Genesis of Burnt Tongues by Dennis Widmyer and Richard Thomas.
Table of Contents:
Live This Down by Neil Krolicki
Charlie by Chris Lewis Carter
Paper by Gayle Towell
Mating Calls by Tony Liebhard
Melody by Michael De Vito, Jr.
F for Fake by Tyler Jones
Mind and Soldier by Phil Jourdan
Ingredients by Richard Lemmer
The Line Forms on the Right by Amanda Gowin
A Vodka Kind of Girl by Matt Egan
Gasoline by Fred Venturini
Dietary by Brandon Tietz
Invisible Graffiti by Adam Skorupskas
Bike by Bryan Howie
Heavier Petting by Brien Piechos
Engines, O-Rings, and Astronauts by Jason M. Fylan
Lemming by Terence James Eeles
The Routine by Keith Buie
Survived by Gus Moreno
Zombie Whorehouse by Daniel W. Broallt
329 pages, Paperback
First published August 12, 2014
243 people are currently reading
5238 people want to read
About the author
Chuck Palahniuk
237 books131k followersWritten in stolen moments under truck chassis and on park benches to a soundtrack of The Downward Spiral and Pablo Honey, Fight Club came into existence. The adaptation of Fight Club was a flop at the box office, but achieved cult status on DVD. The film’s popularity drove sales of the novel. Chuck put out two novels in 1999, Survivor and Invisible Monsters. Choke, published in 2001, became Chuck’s first New York Times bestseller. Chuck’s work has always been infused with personal experience, and his next novel, Lullaby, was no exception. Chuck credits writing Lullaby with helping him cope with the tragic death of his father. Diary and the non-fiction guide to Portland, Fugitives and Refugees, were released in 2003. While on the road in support of Diary, Chuck began reading a short story entitled 'Guts,' which would eventually become part of the novel Haunted.
In the years that followed, he continued to write, publishing the bestselling Rant, Snuff, Pygmy, Tell-All, a 'remix' of Invisible Monsters, Damned, and most recently, Doomed.
Chuck also enjoys giving back to his fans, and teaching the art of storytelling has been an important part of that. In 2004, Chuck began submitting essays to ChuckPalahniuk.net on the craft of writing. These were 'How To' pieces, straight out of Chuck's personal bag of tricks, based on the tenants of minimalism he learned from Tom Spanbauer. Every month, a “Homework Assignment” would accompany the lesson, so Workshop members could apply what they had learned. (all 36 of these essays can currently be found on The Cult's sister-site, LitReactor.com).
Then, in 2009, Chuck increased his involvement by committing to read and review a selection of fan-written stories each month. The best stories are currently set to be published in Burnt Tongues, a forthcoming anthology, with an introduction written by Chuck himself.
His next novel, Beautiful You, is due out in October 2014.
In the years that followed, he continued to write, publishing the bestselling Rant, Snuff, Pygmy, Tell-All, a 'remix' of Invisible Monsters, Damned, and most recently, Doomed.
Chuck also enjoys giving back to his fans, and teaching the art of storytelling has been an important part of that. In 2004, Chuck began submitting essays to ChuckPalahniuk.net on the craft of writing. These were 'How To' pieces, straight out of Chuck's personal bag of tricks, based on the tenants of minimalism he learned from Tom Spanbauer. Every month, a “Homework Assignment” would accompany the lesson, so Workshop members could apply what they had learned. (all 36 of these essays can currently be found on The Cult's sister-site, LitReactor.com).
Then, in 2009, Chuck increased his involvement by committing to read and review a selection of fan-written stories each month. The best stories are currently set to be published in Burnt Tongues, a forthcoming anthology, with an introduction written by Chuck himself.
His next novel, Beautiful You, is due out in October 2014.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 252 reviews
July 9, 2014
Full disclosure: I am one of the writers who is lucky enough to have a story in this collection, so a rating of Five Stars must be oozing with personal bias, right? Well, yeah, maybe a little, but hear me out! If you're like me, you typically take anthologies with a baseball-sized grain of salt - especially those filled with names that you might not necessarily know. It's cool, I get it. But here's the thing. As someone who has read, re-read, and followed each of these pieces from early drafts, to edited drafts, to what-you'll-find-inside-this-book drafts, I can honestly say that no other collection has ever left me with so many brain-searing visuals, or gut-lump emotions - the kind of stories that you replay in your mind again and again before you go to sleep at night.
Some of these pieces are heart-breaking. Some are downright shocking. Hell, a couple might be used as "Exhibit A" in a psychiatric case some day. But no matter what you think about them, I guarantee you won't forget about them. And, after all, isn't that the highest praise you can give any creative work?
And did I mention the absolutely brilliant introduction by Palahniuk himself? Trust me, after you read this book, you're going to recommend at least a dozen of these stories to someone - anyone - who'll listen to you. If not, just blame it on a horribly misleading Goodreads review. Stupid Chris.
Some of these pieces are heart-breaking. Some are downright shocking. Hell, a couple might be used as "Exhibit A" in a psychiatric case some day. But no matter what you think about them, I guarantee you won't forget about them. And, after all, isn't that the highest praise you can give any creative work?
And did I mention the absolutely brilliant introduction by Palahniuk himself? Trust me, after you read this book, you're going to recommend at least a dozen of these stories to someone - anyone - who'll listen to you. If not, just blame it on a horribly misleading Goodreads review. Stupid Chris.
August 14, 2014
The fact that a fair number of the glowing reviews here were written by those who have stories included in this collection is fairly telling. This collection is really a massive disappointment considering Palahniuk himself stamped it with his name. For the most part, it includes authors trying to ape Palahniuk's style and doing a poor job of it. Characterization is weak, and there weren't really any standout stories for me in the bunch. Biggest bust of the year so far for me.
April 29, 2019
There’s nothing quite as satisfying as the short story. This anthology—case and point. The spokes…thing for a bastard genre long forgotten by a generation of “obese novel” enthusiasts. The top result in a Google search query. The banned book that’s yet to be discovered by Tipper Gore. The so obscenely real it must be burned at the altar of Rush Limbaugh, sanctified and cleansed in the House of [fill in the blank]. So prudent it absolutely MUST be fiction!
I’m not gonna spend much time talking about the content, but the intro and outro are exploding trigger happy school shooters (please note this is a metaphor for those easily manipulated by Jedi). Everything in between is what lit should be on the bookshelves and e-readers everywhere. Minimalism. Transgressive. Pure ecstasy for the naturalist reader.
The lover of prose and originality will marvel at the jams in this forbidden fruit. Obviously, I recommend Burnt Tongues and applaud Richard Thomas (and associates) for his (their) sense of taste and editorial skill. Do yourself a favor and rock this jam.
I’m not gonna spend much time talking about the content, but the intro and outro are exploding trigger happy school shooters (please note this is a metaphor for those easily manipulated by Jedi). Everything in between is what lit should be on the bookshelves and e-readers everywhere. Minimalism. Transgressive. Pure ecstasy for the naturalist reader.
The lover of prose and originality will marvel at the jams in this forbidden fruit. Obviously, I recommend Burnt Tongues and applaud Richard Thomas (and associates) for his (their) sense of taste and editorial skill. Do yourself a favor and rock this jam.
July 22, 2016
A lot of these read as Palahniuk-lite, which I suppose gives me a whole new appreciation for him as an author because the lite versions here rarely come close to being as exciting as his writing used to be. There's a story about women who have sex with dogs that sort of feels like it's trying to hard, and there's a story about The Game that bored women who work at supermarkets play that reads well but seems totally implausible as a concept. I'd like to read a whole novel about the characters in "The Line Forms on the Right", and although I wouldn't call "Survived" particularly transgressive, I do think it's quite good. And then there's "Bike," wherein Bryan Howie demonstrates how to write short stories the correct way while making it look easy. "Give me six pages," he says, "and I will give you characters, make you have feelings about them, and then I will destroy them. And you will be left thinking about them for days afterward." And I am. Worth it just for that.
August 8, 2014
This review was originally published on www.litdemon.com
The first story I read in the workshop where the Burnt Tongues anthology was conceived was “Heavier Petting.” It’s featured in this collection, naturally. After reading it, my innocence was forever ruined. I caught the infectious writing bug. The one that makes you read and write sick and twisted stories like “Heavier Petting.”
The introduction by Chuck Palahniuk isn't something to skip if you don't like reading introductions. This is one of those rare cases where the introduction is as entertaining as the stories. And don't pass this book by if you aren't a fan of anthologies, short stories, transgressive fiction, or damn fine reading. This long anticipated book is the best one I've read all year.
Some of these stories echo the style and techniques present in Chuck Palahniuk's work. These stories were crafted on a Chuck Palahniuk website so this isn't a huge surprise. Even if you aren't a fan of Palahniuk's work, though, these stories stand on their own as very freaking awesome and transgressive. These guys are almost in a genre of their own due to their talent and boldness.
These stories are disturbing and addicting. They range from the subtle but baleful to gut swirling, mind raping tales of despair. So if you compare them to Bret Easton Ellis’s books, they would respectively be roughly equivalent to something between The Informers and the gruesome scenes in American Psycho.
Take for example the story "Mating Calls." The story revolves around a vet student's sexual frustrations, his disappointments, and existential crises. The story ultimately delves into the emotions and psychology of a character so human that it reads like a diary. There is no disembowelment, decapitations, or anything else so commonly associated with the genre of this book.
"Day and night, the dominate male protects his nest, and all his labor finally pays off when a female shows up to spawn. Soon as the deed is done he kicks her out and goes right back to defending his territory, all while fanning his tail to aerate the freshly fertilized eggs.
"Only one thing ever lures him away. Another hot female to spawn. The second he leaves his nest all his hard work goes down the drain when a weaker male zips in and re-fertilizes the eggs. Nature's equivalent to a drive-by shooting. They call these fish sneakers."
The writer cleverly reminds us throughout the story that we are not as evolved as we like to believe and that a hierarchy still exists, that we are animals and only the strong survive to go on to reproduce.
On the other end of the spectrum we have a less subtle story titled "Engines, O-rings, and Astronauts."
"I didn't kill Mrs. Alphabet, but I helped."
The writer of this story shows us that even our darling children aren't free from primal instincts and the dark side of human emotions and behavior. They are more susceptible to these things.
"And Freddy came to class twenty minutes late, his daddy's old shotgun swinging at his side."
Every fan of dark fiction should have this one leering from their bookshelf.
And I will leave you with a teaser for “Heavier Petting":
"When she tells it her way, with all the graphic finery and ruined upholstery and crawling and bucket of generic lube, half the room empties before the part where she straps on the spiked collar."
"The last time I heard her tell it there was this torso guy listening in--just a head and rib cage. He'll lie on the floor at goth/industrial nightclubs and pay gals to walk across his chest in stiletto heels. Pinned down, he looked up Redemption's skirt and said, 'Now that's twisted.'"
"At one party we ditched out to avoid the looks while Redemption told her tale. He told me that contrary to popular belief the human egg can actually be impregnated by canine sperm."
The first story I read in the workshop where the Burnt Tongues anthology was conceived was “Heavier Petting.” It’s featured in this collection, naturally. After reading it, my innocence was forever ruined. I caught the infectious writing bug. The one that makes you read and write sick and twisted stories like “Heavier Petting.”
The introduction by Chuck Palahniuk isn't something to skip if you don't like reading introductions. This is one of those rare cases where the introduction is as entertaining as the stories. And don't pass this book by if you aren't a fan of anthologies, short stories, transgressive fiction, or damn fine reading. This long anticipated book is the best one I've read all year.
Some of these stories echo the style and techniques present in Chuck Palahniuk's work. These stories were crafted on a Chuck Palahniuk website so this isn't a huge surprise. Even if you aren't a fan of Palahniuk's work, though, these stories stand on their own as very freaking awesome and transgressive. These guys are almost in a genre of their own due to their talent and boldness.
These stories are disturbing and addicting. They range from the subtle but baleful to gut swirling, mind raping tales of despair. So if you compare them to Bret Easton Ellis’s books, they would respectively be roughly equivalent to something between The Informers and the gruesome scenes in American Psycho.
Take for example the story "Mating Calls." The story revolves around a vet student's sexual frustrations, his disappointments, and existential crises. The story ultimately delves into the emotions and psychology of a character so human that it reads like a diary. There is no disembowelment, decapitations, or anything else so commonly associated with the genre of this book.
"Day and night, the dominate male protects his nest, and all his labor finally pays off when a female shows up to spawn. Soon as the deed is done he kicks her out and goes right back to defending his territory, all while fanning his tail to aerate the freshly fertilized eggs.
"Only one thing ever lures him away. Another hot female to spawn. The second he leaves his nest all his hard work goes down the drain when a weaker male zips in and re-fertilizes the eggs. Nature's equivalent to a drive-by shooting. They call these fish sneakers."
The writer cleverly reminds us throughout the story that we are not as evolved as we like to believe and that a hierarchy still exists, that we are animals and only the strong survive to go on to reproduce.
On the other end of the spectrum we have a less subtle story titled "Engines, O-rings, and Astronauts."
"I didn't kill Mrs. Alphabet, but I helped."
The writer of this story shows us that even our darling children aren't free from primal instincts and the dark side of human emotions and behavior. They are more susceptible to these things.
"And Freddy came to class twenty minutes late, his daddy's old shotgun swinging at his side."
Every fan of dark fiction should have this one leering from their bookshelf.
And I will leave you with a teaser for “Heavier Petting":
"When she tells it her way, with all the graphic finery and ruined upholstery and crawling and bucket of generic lube, half the room empties before the part where she straps on the spiked collar."
"The last time I heard her tell it there was this torso guy listening in--just a head and rib cage. He'll lie on the floor at goth/industrial nightclubs and pay gals to walk across his chest in stiletto heels. Pinned down, he looked up Redemption's skirt and said, 'Now that's twisted.'"
"At one party we ditched out to avoid the looks while Redemption told her tale. He told me that contrary to popular belief the human egg can actually be impregnated by canine sperm."
October 12, 2014
Maintained a marvelous sense of foreboding throughout. Really great stories! I'm surprised that Burnt Tongues doesn't have more ratings. I pre-ordered the book and looked forward to it's release for months. I was first attracted by the Chuck Palahniuk association, but I also love short stories, and a collection of short, transgressive fiction sounded fascinating. Burnt Tongues surpassed my expectations! I think this book deserves way more hype than it's received so far. If you like Palahniuk, these are stories HE selected, and the ones he picked are gloriously weird and perverse tales. I highly recommend Burnt Tongues!
August 12, 2014
As one of the authors included in the anthology, it goes without saying (but I'll say it anyway) that it's an honor to be a part of this. Every story in here kicks ass.
For those who are interested in a behind the scenes look on how BURNT TONGUES came to be, read this column: http://litreactor.com/columns/burnt-t...
Thanks to all who are reading and reviewing.
-BT
For those who are interested in a behind the scenes look on how BURNT TONGUES came to be, read this column: http://litreactor.com/columns/burnt-t...
Thanks to all who are reading and reviewing.
-BT
February 25, 2018
This is a superb collection of short stories.
June 28, 2015
I was underwhelmed. I don't think I'll remember any of the stories three years from now. Only one of the stories (about the girl at the grocery store) upset me. Others (the ones about bestiality and zombie sex) sort of seemed like they were trying too hard to be "transgressive" for no real reason. What did Simpsons say - postmodernism is weird for the sake of weird? One gets that feeling here.
Anyway, the stories ranged from "OK" to "totally forgettable." They were all so painfully short that it was impossible to become attached to the characters. And almost none of the stories had any real payoff in the end, which is absolutely essential for a satisfying short story (zombie sex, oddly enough, was one exception to this rule).
Oh, and I totally agree with the reviewers who criticized these stories as being Palahniuk-lite. It is almost a bit embarrassing that Palahniuk would pick stories that were so clearly imitating his own style. Gosh, how the mighty have fallen.
Anyway, the stories ranged from "OK" to "totally forgettable." They were all so painfully short that it was impossible to become attached to the characters. And almost none of the stories had any real payoff in the end, which is absolutely essential for a satisfying short story (zombie sex, oddly enough, was one exception to this rule).
Oh, and I totally agree with the reviewers who criticized these stories as being Palahniuk-lite. It is almost a bit embarrassing that Palahniuk would pick stories that were so clearly imitating his own style. Gosh, how the mighty have fallen.
August 11, 2014
These stories were amazing! Yes, some of them made me gag and/or feel troubled. They were gritty and gory, but they have stuck with me. I'll never be able to forget them. Every time I see a commercial for a weight loss supplement I will think of Miranda Pritchard.
I find it amazing that writers can make you feel so much in such a short story. Brilliant!
If you enjoy reading things of a transgressive nature, then you should read this book.
I find it amazing that writers can make you feel so much in such a short story. Brilliant!
If you enjoy reading things of a transgressive nature, then you should read this book.
July 25, 2023
Just received the Turner edition hardcover and it's a beautiful book. Fantastic type, illustrations, and cover. Well worth the extra $.
July 26, 2017
A collection of twisted short stories, collated and edited by Chuck Palahniuk. As expected, anything that Palahniuk puts his name to is going to be dark, disturbing and should be approached with caution!
This book is nowhere near as horrific as 'Haunted' by the man himself, but the stories all have the ability to make you recoil in horror. At one point (somewhere near the middle) I had to put the book down for a few hours and collect myself (I think it involved a chicken satay stick...). There were one or two more tame additions that allowed time to breathe - and one story near the end I skipped altogether because it just wasn't interesting me. The last tale is as good as the first, and will definitely leave a lasting impression!
Chuck Palahniuk's introduction was very interesting, in particular the quote "Young people want mirrors. Older people want art." The more I think about his comments on reading and re-reading, and growing to love the impression of a book that you didn't enjoy when you actually read it; the more I believe his comments to be true.
If you like the bizarre fiction that Palahniuk throws at us, then you're going to like the short works that he's pulled together for us here too.
This book is nowhere near as horrific as 'Haunted' by the man himself, but the stories all have the ability to make you recoil in horror. At one point (somewhere near the middle) I had to put the book down for a few hours and collect myself (I think it involved a chicken satay stick...). There were one or two more tame additions that allowed time to breathe - and one story near the end I skipped altogether because it just wasn't interesting me. The last tale is as good as the first, and will definitely leave a lasting impression!
Chuck Palahniuk's introduction was very interesting, in particular the quote "Young people want mirrors. Older people want art." The more I think about his comments on reading and re-reading, and growing to love the impression of a book that you didn't enjoy when you actually read it; the more I believe his comments to be true.
If you like the bizarre fiction that Palahniuk throws at us, then you're going to like the short works that he's pulled together for us here too.
May 4, 2025
My personal ratings for each of the short stories:
Phil Jourdan-Mind and Soldier: 10/10
Chris Lewis Carter-Charlie: 9/10
Brandon Tietz-Dietary: 9/10
Adam Skorupskas-Invisible Graffiti: 9/10
Bryan Howie-Bike: 9/10
Richard Lemmer-Ingredients: 8/10
Tyler Jones-F for Fake: 8/10
Keith Bule-Routine: 8/10
Daniel W. Broallt-Zombie Whorehouse: 8/10
Michael De Vito, Jr.-Melody: 7/10
Jason M. Fylon-Engines, O-rings, and Astronauts: 6/10
Fred Venturini-Gasoline: 6/10
Tony Liebhard-Mating Calls: 5/10
Matt Egan-A Vodka Kind of Girl: 5/10
Gayle Towell-Paper: 4/10
Amanda Gowin-The Line Forms On the Right: 4/10
Neil Krolicki-Live This Down: 4/10
Brien Piechos-Heavier Petting: 3/10
Gus Moreno-Survived: 2/10
Terence James Eeles-Lemming: 1/10
On average, I would give this collection a 6 out of 10.
Phil Jourdan-Mind and Soldier: 10/10
Chris Lewis Carter-Charlie: 9/10
Brandon Tietz-Dietary: 9/10
Adam Skorupskas-Invisible Graffiti: 9/10
Bryan Howie-Bike: 9/10
Richard Lemmer-Ingredients: 8/10
Tyler Jones-F for Fake: 8/10
Keith Bule-Routine: 8/10
Daniel W. Broallt-Zombie Whorehouse: 8/10
Michael De Vito, Jr.-Melody: 7/10
Jason M. Fylon-Engines, O-rings, and Astronauts: 6/10
Fred Venturini-Gasoline: 6/10
Tony Liebhard-Mating Calls: 5/10
Matt Egan-A Vodka Kind of Girl: 5/10
Gayle Towell-Paper: 4/10
Amanda Gowin-The Line Forms On the Right: 4/10
Neil Krolicki-Live This Down: 4/10
Brien Piechos-Heavier Petting: 3/10
Gus Moreno-Survived: 2/10
Terence James Eeles-Lemming: 1/10
On average, I would give this collection a 6 out of 10.
August 23, 2014
4.5 Stars. A previous reviewer took the words right out of my mouth: "This is simply a bad ass book." The stories are written very well and there were none that fell completely short. Sure, there were a few that didn't grip me as much, but they fit in with the flow of this anthology. It was put together very well by Chuck and his team. I love that Chuck helped these new authors find a place in the literary world through this anthology.
These stories shock you and slap the crap out of you. They are raw, no holds barred, in your face disturbing and thought provoking. What goes unsaid is often more powerful than what is said and that marks a well done story. F for Fake was my favorite and Ingredients a close second. This is not a book for everyone. Proceed with caution.
These stories shock you and slap the crap out of you. They are raw, no holds barred, in your face disturbing and thought provoking. What goes unsaid is often more powerful than what is said and that marks a well done story. F for Fake was my favorite and Ingredients a close second. This is not a book for everyone. Proceed with caution.
August 13, 2014
Like most short story collections, Burnt Tongues has a couple of misses, but overall, it was a great read. Zombie Whorehouse, Bike, and Heavier Petting are probably my three favorites, because they push expectations and still make relevant social comments. Some of the other stories were shocking/gruesome but didn't seem to make a larger point. Even those stories were fun because the writing was good and the subject matter was pretty far out. Personally, I think transgressive fiction works best as satire or social commentary so those stories which seemed to be working on that level were much more enjoyable to me. Other horror fans may enjoy several of the other stories just for the content.
August 5, 2014
A great collection of stories. Some hilarious, many disturbing but all entertaining none the less. Highlights include Bike by Bryan Howie, Dietary by Brandon Tietz and Zombie Whorehouse by Daniel W. Broallt. I can definitely see myself returning to these stories from time to time. Highly recommended if disturbingly hilarious is something you're okay with.
March 20, 2015
Burnt Tongues is a collection of transgressive short fiction. It is also a term for the transgressive genre itself. Chuck Palahniuk defines "burnt tongue as "a way of saying something, but saying it wrong, twisting it to slow down the reader. Forcing the reader to read close, maybe read twice, not just skim along the surface of abstract images, short-cut adverbs, and clichés." It also focuses on the things most people don't want to talk about, the darker sides of ourselves that we don't admit to having, the darker sides of society we would all like to think don't exist. It is a different kind of horror -- a truthful, real-life, undeniable sort of horror that is scary because it's true. Like a burnt tongue these writings will take things you thought you were familiar with and make them taste different, and although the experience may be painful at times, it may come to change your perspective on pain in general. If you're into that sort of thing.
Burnt Tongues is a must read for all fans of transgressive fiction, Chuck Palahniuk and all his similarly disturbed contemporaries. Here is a quick look at what you can expect from the unexpected.
Read more at SFReader: Burnt Tongues, edited by Chuck Palahniuk
Burnt Tongues is a must read for all fans of transgressive fiction, Chuck Palahniuk and all his similarly disturbed contemporaries. Here is a quick look at what you can expect from the unexpected.
Read more at SFReader: Burnt Tongues, edited by Chuck Palahniuk
August 21, 2020
Second time reading this collection as I’d previously read this when it first came out a good few years ago, but I’m so glad that this got a facelift and that I’ve gone back to re-read.
Chuck Palahniuk in the introduction mentions that this collection is special and on various times reading it, different stories float to the surface and make you fall in love with them more, it’s a collection that grows with the reader as time moves on...
And I have to say he’s right, some of these stories when I initially read them I didn’t have a connection with, either they were too out there or written in a way that disconnected me from their enjoyment - but re-reading now pretty much all of these stories hit home and I found myself enjoying pretty much the whole collection - with many of them being masterful. There were a couple that I still didn’t appreciate and these were ones I didn’t really enjoy on the first offering too.
But there are some fabulous stories in here and after a quick look online for the writers of my favourite stories didn’t really turn up any additional works (no books etc.) which is criminal really as they were stunning, I wanted more from them and was willing to buy more of their work, but alas nothing yet - so I’ll keep my eyes open for more work from these specific writers in the future. Full review coming to STORGY and my YouTube channel shortly...
Chuck Palahniuk in the introduction mentions that this collection is special and on various times reading it, different stories float to the surface and make you fall in love with them more, it’s a collection that grows with the reader as time moves on...
And I have to say he’s right, some of these stories when I initially read them I didn’t have a connection with, either they were too out there or written in a way that disconnected me from their enjoyment - but re-reading now pretty much all of these stories hit home and I found myself enjoying pretty much the whole collection - with many of them being masterful. There were a couple that I still didn’t appreciate and these were ones I didn’t really enjoy on the first offering too.
But there are some fabulous stories in here and after a quick look online for the writers of my favourite stories didn’t really turn up any additional works (no books etc.) which is criminal really as they were stunning, I wanted more from them and was willing to buy more of their work, but alas nothing yet - so I’ll keep my eyes open for more work from these specific writers in the future. Full review coming to STORGY and my YouTube channel shortly...
November 13, 2015
This is the type of book that you can't put down, much in the way that when you're offered a taste of something vile and horrifying you just have to see what the disgust is all about. In typical Palahniuk fashion, the stories in this book are downright repulsive, endearing and unforgettable. The imagery is bizarre and the language is direct, though you will wish it weren't. Bunt Tongues offers a taster of what Haunted (also by Palahniuk) gives-- except in a sick, demented, bunch-of-curse-wordsy-compilation-of-short-and-shorter stories (way). This is not the type of book you'd be proud to have read, and it's definitely one that you do not want to recite out in the open. That said, you probably don't want to read this alone. The best thing to do, in fact, is to keep this part of your life as secret as possible and as far away from a computer as you can. Every story is different, just as perturbed, but different. This book will make you question your sanity, but just remember: This is just damned good fiction.
October 31, 2014
Whoa. I didn't know this type of fiction had a name, but now I know....transgressive! Rene Chun, a NY Times columnist described it as such: "A literary genre that graphically explores such topics as incest and other aberrant sexual practices, mutilation, the sprouting of sexual organs in various places on the human body, urban violence and violence against women, drug use, and highly dysfunctional family relationships, and that is based on the premise that knowledge is to be found at the edge of experience and that the body is the site for gaining knowledge."
This book caught my attention because Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club) is the editor. The stories included in the collection all passed muster with his disturbed and morbid eye. Good Halloween reading, not for the faint of heart.
This book caught my attention because Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club) is the editor. The stories included in the collection all passed muster with his disturbed and morbid eye. Good Halloween reading, not for the faint of heart.
September 10, 2014
I got this book because I will NEVER recover from reading Palahniuk's "Guts," and I was hoping for more of that type of writing. the kind that leaves you disoriented, but just clear enough to hand the work to someone else & say "oh my god, you have to read this!" Then giggle softly while watching them gag. This anthology did not disappoint. "Live this Down and " Heavier Petting " were the real stand-outs for me, but I'm kinda jaded!
October 6, 2015
Some of these stories were incredible. A few that stand out particularly: "Heavier Petting", "Live This Down", "Dietary" and "Zombie Whorehouse", really impressed me with their uniqueness and definitely their subversiveness (which I was promised on the front cover). Others were a let down ("Bike" and "Mating Calls" in particular really did nothing for me). All in all though, an awesome anthology. Very well put together and lots of unique voices and I hope to read more from the featured authors.
September 24, 2016
Without a doubt, this anthology book contains the most disturbing, dark and gory stories I've ever read. They may mess you up! Don't read if you're weak hearted. Seriously! Probably, that's the reason I loved this book so much. It exposes the side of humans which is rarely discussed and almost never confronted. I'm going to reread this one.
August 23, 2014
This collection of stories is incredible. Each one expertly well written and completely enthralling. Some of these stories are not for the faint of heart. I especially loved the stories that required a deeper read. This short story anthology reminded me that I need to read more short stories.
June 1, 2015
most of these short stories were quite good. a few were great. one or two were unforgettable in the same way that guts was unforgettable so many years ago. this isn't an easy anthology to read--this alone makes reading it worthwhile.
August 22, 2017
A weird, cringe-worthy collection of short stories that will make you think about a lot of things you've probably never thought about. Just like Palahniuk's writing, you'll wonder why you're still reading these without being able to put it down.
July 24, 2014
Listen to the complete review on our website: http://www.bookedpodcast.com/2014/07/...
October 10, 2014
An absolutely incredible set of short stories in transgressive fiction. Thank you for all involved participants to make this book! I enjoyed every second of it.
March 24, 2024
YAWN. This anthology was appallingly pedestrian and gave me such terrible secondhand embarrassment. The physical embodiment of that meme where every so called deep, edgy, philosophical thought a man posits, girls were discussing in the fourth grade. It wouldn’t have been so bad if this book wasn’t confidently marketed as “transgressive” and “scarring” but it was! Transgressive to who? Nancy Regan? Idk even she might be googling bestiality porn, no judgement.
Reading this felt like being in a room full of twelve year old boys who have only interacted with women by listening to a 2012 Kesha song, trying to write about sex. It felt like having a class of preteen dudes sprayed in too much axe showing me snuff porn or beheading videos with the intent to shock me as if I didn’t grow numb to this shit when I was in middle school myself twenty years ago. MORTIFYING display of a bunch of pompous, self inflated Chuckie P wannabes jacking off together and calling each others kindergarten disgust threshold genius. Also there were twenty stories and only TWO were written by women. Suprise, those were subtle and interesting and didn’t feel like being hit over the head with an inflatable mallet purchased at a Spencer’s gifts. I wonder why! (No I don’t).
I will say, though I wouldn’t classify a single one if these stories as shocking or transgressive or even a little weird, not every story was bad. There were a few that I enjoyed and were very well written and I was only annoyed at them because of the full of itself framing and foreword and way the collection was marketed, which made he hopeful and also like, gave me the expectation of actually having my literary boundaries pushed, which was laughable in retrospect. Also, every single one was knock off Chuck Palahniuk wrt to style, so there was little diversity and a lot of imitative try hard which has me rolling my eyes. An Amazon reviewer called this “Charlie Chaplin look alike contest” and that single line is better than most of this book. I will say I breezed through it, it’s a VERY easy read, and that it gave me so much spite fuel for my own writing! So! Not a total loss! The two stars are for the two poor women grouped in with the 8th grade locker room. Sorry ladies you deserved better than this steaming pile.
Reading this felt like being in a room full of twelve year old boys who have only interacted with women by listening to a 2012 Kesha song, trying to write about sex. It felt like having a class of preteen dudes sprayed in too much axe showing me snuff porn or beheading videos with the intent to shock me as if I didn’t grow numb to this shit when I was in middle school myself twenty years ago. MORTIFYING display of a bunch of pompous, self inflated Chuckie P wannabes jacking off together and calling each others kindergarten disgust threshold genius. Also there were twenty stories and only TWO were written by women. Suprise, those were subtle and interesting and didn’t feel like being hit over the head with an inflatable mallet purchased at a Spencer’s gifts. I wonder why! (No I don’t).
I will say, though I wouldn’t classify a single one if these stories as shocking or transgressive or even a little weird, not every story was bad. There were a few that I enjoyed and were very well written and I was only annoyed at them because of the full of itself framing and foreword and way the collection was marketed, which made he hopeful and also like, gave me the expectation of actually having my literary boundaries pushed, which was laughable in retrospect. Also, every single one was knock off Chuck Palahniuk wrt to style, so there was little diversity and a lot of imitative try hard which has me rolling my eyes. An Amazon reviewer called this “Charlie Chaplin look alike contest” and that single line is better than most of this book. I will say I breezed through it, it’s a VERY easy read, and that it gave me so much spite fuel for my own writing! So! Not a total loss! The two stars are for the two poor women grouped in with the 8th grade locker room. Sorry ladies you deserved better than this steaming pile.
April 18, 2019
It's an anthology of extreme, unsavory, nasty stories, collated under the auspices of the master himself. Thankfully, it's not a gaggle of Palahniuk-lite tales, tho some veer close to it. Better than most story collections I've read - it had more winners than clunkers.
Some feel like forays to the strange and seedy side of the internet, which is not a bad thing. A few did jolt me, and since I've consumed more than my share of depraved and questionable material, this is saying a lot. While it has stories about zombie whores, passionate bestiality, suicide circles, etc it's not empty fare that only aims to shock. Many have heart and a few had me thinking long after I closed the book.
Out of the 20 stories, I hold 7 in high praise: Live This Down; Charlie; F For Fake; Ingredients; Gasoline; Dietary; and Engines, O-rings, and Astronauts.
I recommended this for fans of transgressive entertainment. I'm rating it 7/10 or 4 shocking, outré stars out of 5.
Some feel like forays to the strange and seedy side of the internet, which is not a bad thing. A few did jolt me, and since I've consumed more than my share of depraved and questionable material, this is saying a lot. While it has stories about zombie whores, passionate bestiality, suicide circles, etc it's not empty fare that only aims to shock. Many have heart and a few had me thinking long after I closed the book.
Out of the 20 stories, I hold 7 in high praise: Live This Down; Charlie; F For Fake; Ingredients; Gasoline; Dietary; and Engines, O-rings, and Astronauts.
I recommended this for fans of transgressive entertainment. I'm rating it 7/10 or 4 shocking, outré stars out of 5.
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