The Axman's Shift: A Love Story

by Randy Thornhorn

A Southern Gothic Romance in a faraway, rockabilly land. If they ain't no Elvis, where do old be-bop kings go to be reborn? Love lifts us upcountry, into snowy castles, where a world-worn guitar picker on his last shaky leg finds the An ageless spinster whose flesh must shun the light of day.

A Tale Untold by a Riddle Top Magpie

"Thornhorn, where the hell have you been?" ~ William Peter Blatty (author of The Exorcist )

"One of the South's wildest new voices..." ~ The Oxford American Magazine

76 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 8, 2014

About the author

Randy Thornhorn is the teller of many tales, including this one. His most recent work is the acclaimed Southern music novel The Kestrel Waters, the epic sequel to his novel Wicked Temper. Author of the longest fiction ever published in The Oxford American Magazine, most of Mr. Thornhorn's stories occur in a displaced world, a fable-infested Southern region some would surely deem unsafe. He visits often, sometimes stays the night. Other nights he might be found on a wooded hilltop somewhere east of Montgomery in the land of Alabama.

He seldom sees angels fly his skies. But magpies are another story.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great short story. This one is not as creepy as others he has written. The elements of strangeness are still there just not as blatant. If you like a nice and tidy ending this one may suit you.

[Peggy T · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read several of Mr. Thornhorn's works - maybe all of them. His writing is always lyrical and evocative. The Axman's Shift is a not-so-short story that is found in his first novel, Wicked Temper, but it is written in such a way that it stands alone. Of all his writings, I believe that this is my favorite. It is the story of Lovell, a guitar player who could hold his own with the devil (if he ever came down from Georgia), and Lovell's two loves. His wife is a big, brawling woman who finally abuses Lovell right out of their home and into the wealthy abode of another, much different lady. Lovell's second love is frail and mysterious - she may even be much older than he thinks. But their bond becomes so strong that he would not care, if he did learn her secrets.

Thornhorn's gift is such that he inspires me to attempt to write as beautifully as he. Alas, I cannot. If I could, I'd try to explain how this story came to mean so much to me. It has to do with the universality of a desire to find such a love as Lovell's, I think. It gives me hope that such a thing might prove possible.

[Larry Bassett · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a short story with a happy ending. But I was totally unable to follow the bread crumbs from the chaotic beginning to the culmination. I was almost down for the count early on and couldn't recover. But I have another one to try out Randy. There must be something to all those five stars you get from others!

[Janice Radcliff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great and twisted story from Randy Thornhorn.

[Vicki Herbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Appalachian Love Story...

No spoilers. 4 stars. I'm a big fan of Randy Thornhorn's hillbilly tales but this one was out of my comfort zone...

Lovell Starling, a blues guitarist known to the locals as the Axman, lives with 300 pound Floy (Lady Floy)... he works the bars with his guitar and Floy spends the money on perty perties...

... until one day Lovell is swept off his feet and into a Royale Victoria automobile by the sweet but crazy Fionuala and her fortune...

... and the two set up a new household in her mansion without so much as a "see ya later gal" to Lady Floy...

I like Appalachian stories and Randy Thornhorn is my favorite author in that genre. The story was good but I prefer his horror stories.