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Bottom Feeders
The Mississippi River is notorious for holding catfish pushing triple digit weights, flesh-eating alligator gar over two-hundred pounds, water moccasins, alligators, and even bull sharks. Top to bottom, it’s a river teeming with top-tier predators. But there’s something else in the water, something far more ancient and evil, something that has been dormant for thousands of years. Now, as Jed Wilkes, a New Orleans casino baron, prepares for the grand opening of his greatest endeavor yet—a floating casino on the Mississippi—these primordial river monsters are just waking up. Faced with losing his lifetime dream, Jed must team up with his ex-wife’s new husband, Louisiana’s greatest big-game hunter, to track down and kill off the river monsters before opening night.
- GenresHorror
122 pages, Paperback
First published January 16, 2015
18 people are currently reading
546 people want to read
About the author
Adam Cesare
65 books2,617 followersAdam Cesare is a New Yorker who lives in Philadelphia. His books include Clown in a Cornfield, Video Night, The Summer Job, and Zero Lives Remaining. He’s an avid fan of horror cinema and runs Project: Black T-Shirt, a YouTube review show where he takes horror films and pairs them with reading suggestions.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 21, 2015
I don't know who can lay claim to coming up with the idea of a mountainous catfish praying on unwary folk and the crazy sect of people worshiping it down around New Orleans way, but whomever it is out of Adam Cesare and Cameron Pierce, should take a bow. This quick-to-read novella is over-the-top, wacky, and ridiculous fun. It also harbours a surprisingly nasty edge that becomes increasingly pronounced as the story builds toward its conclusion and characters are mercilessly culled.
Though I cared less for a weird development toward the story's end that feels unnecessarily tacked on, I have no hesitation in recommending Bottom Feeders to the discerning horror lover jonesing for their next monster-fix.
3.5 Calf-Hugging Catfish Boots for Bottom Feeders.
Though I cared less for a weird development toward the story's end that feels unnecessarily tacked on, I have no hesitation in recommending Bottom Feeders to the discerning horror lover jonesing for their next monster-fix.
3.5 Calf-Hugging Catfish Boots for Bottom Feeders.
July 23, 2016
Em is a noodler. Well...not anymore. He just got himself fucking noodled by a humongous, killer mutant catfish. Now a fish skin wearing satanic cult is predicting the rising of The Mother and an Aquarian apocalypse on the Bayou. Worse than that, they are litterbugs. There is nothing worse than a Satan worshipping litterbug. Well…an ugly, hungry, pissed off river monster straight out of hell, is right up there.
This one started off really great. Fast paced, smooth story, lots of action. It went a little sideways for me at the end which was mildly disappointing, but not entirely unsatisfying; I just thought it didn’t fit the feel and tone of the rest of the story. I have read a lot of Cesare and liked it all, so it must have been Pierce. (haha!) Just kidding, Cameron.
This one started off really great. Fast paced, smooth story, lots of action. It went a little sideways for me at the end which was mildly disappointing, but not entirely unsatisfying; I just thought it didn’t fit the feel and tone of the rest of the story. I have read a lot of Cesare and liked it all, so it must have been Pierce. (haha!) Just kidding, Cameron.
April 10, 2015
I love monster tales. Over the past few years, I have become much more interested in "fresh water monsters", probably partly from watching the TV show River Monsters. The biggest and scariest fish are in the ocean, but there's some scary fish in fresh water too.
This particular story dealt with a giant catfish. I'm from a fishing family and did a lot of fishing when I was younger, including for catfish. I have also always heard rumors of catfish upwards of 400 pounds spotted by divers in rivers around my area, so this story actually had some relevance.
That being said, the story also disappointed in several ways. It had some sexual crudeness which just seemed out of place. Also, the idea of a cult worshipping the fish was a bit of a stretch. Then we have the two main characters getting killed. And also, the wife of one of the characters kills someone almost for no reason and very non-chalantly. There was also a weird subplot with a half fish baby or something going on. It just all made it come across as silly.
However, this is still a short read and very entertaining. If you like the show River Monsters, if you like to fish especially for catfish, or if you just love sea monster stories, check it out.
This particular story dealt with a giant catfish. I'm from a fishing family and did a lot of fishing when I was younger, including for catfish. I have also always heard rumors of catfish upwards of 400 pounds spotted by divers in rivers around my area, so this story actually had some relevance.
That being said, the story also disappointed in several ways. It had some sexual crudeness which just seemed out of place. Also, the idea of a cult worshipping the fish was a bit of a stretch. Then we have the two main characters getting killed. And also, the wife of one of the characters kills someone almost for no reason and very non-chalantly. There was also a weird subplot with a half fish baby or something going on. It just all made it come across as silly.
However, this is still a short read and very entertaining. If you like the show River Monsters, if you like to fish especially for catfish, or if you just love sea monster stories, check it out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2015
BOTTOM FEEDERS is a novella that has clarity of purpose. It knows what it is and it's not trying to be anything else. It's entertainment, storytelling. It's a book that mixes myth and popcorn entertainment with surprising energy and poise. It's not THE GREAT GATSBY, heck it's not even THE GREAT GATSBY of drive-in fiction, but it's a straightforward and energetic tale of fishing legends starring a cast of deceptively rich and shaded characters entangled in one another's lives, yet all facing the same marine terror.
It's a short ride, but it's a smooth and pleasant one.
It's a short ride, but it's a smooth and pleasant one.
February 7, 2015
BOTTOM FEEDERS brings together Cameron Pierce and Adam Cesare, two unique and talented authors, to tell a novella length creature-feature story that proves, without a doubt, that catfish are creepy. The two have collaborated before, on LEPRECHAUN IN THE HOOD: THE MUSICAL: THE NOVEL, with Shane McKenzie rounding out the trio that penned that extremely smart and funny book. Pierce and Cesare are working as a duo for this outing and their talents blend seamlessly. The prologue of the novel gets things going quickly and establishes that humans are not going to be at the top of the food chain as long as this story lasts. The location along the Mississippi River is strong enough to make the reader think they can smell the muddy waters, and the construction of the river-bound casino impresses as very realistic. There are a number of characters, all well-rendered with an economic use of words. The plot speeds along as professional fishermen and fisherwomen, construction workers and a casino boss, and an average woman just trying to make a better life for herself make their livings in the killer catfish infested river. The story alternates between following the characters and the monster catfish and the balance keeps the pace rolicking along. From imagery of a pentagram constructed with fishing line, to cultists wearing catfish skin garb and the truly unpleasant manner in which a catfish eats meat, things are always interesting. After a fantastic underwater showdown with the monster catfish, the novella moves into its third act, the point at which the characters attempt to resolve the situation. Due to interesting character arcs and characterization, the third act will strike most as surprising, and pleasantly so, especially as it concerns the characters. The only real weaknesses in the book comes up at this point. The action seems abrupt and the end seems to come too soon. When the only critique I find is “I wanted more”, I consider that a successful book. Readers familiar with Pierce and Cesare will see elements and interests of each in the story, Pierce’s love and knowledge of fishing and Cesare’s affinity for creature-features and classic horror. What makes their collaboration really work is that, regardless of the character, scene or plot thread, the prose is consistent from beginning to end as though one voice has written the entire work. It’s a tough thing to do, and a problem common to multi-author works, but with BOTTOM FEEDERS there’s not even a hint of it. This is one fish story that even experienced anglers of horror will will buy into.
March 9, 2015
A too short dive into fishing horror, this really was a fun read, addictive with some damn good turns of phrase. The fun comes to an end a bit too last but leaves you wanting oh so much more. Hopefully we'll see further collaborations from Cesare and Pierce in the future, as they are both talented and together work up a fun read.
April 28, 2015
What a good read! As an okie noodler this book hits home. Sticking your hand in a dark hole and hoping something bites it is always exciting and the authors of this book have captured that feeling and put it in print. This was a fast paced, fun read than aged to cram a lot of story into a small package. My only complaint is that BOTTOM FEEDERS isnt longer. Good job guys.
October 14, 2024
This was a lame mess of a story.
January 27, 2018
Theres something fishy going on in New Orleans
Ok let’s cut to the chase. This book has two writers, usually that means one is an idea guy and the other fleshes things out into the full story. This book has ideas, good ideas, but man is the stuff in between just trash. So much of it is taken up with characters talking about, thinking about or having sex, in a story where sex is not a relevant part of the plot at all. The story would have been served better in a much shorter format with the fat cut out of it.
Anyways the story had quite a few characters, none of em very likable. And a lot of them were introduced just to be killed off shortly thereafter.
Ok let’s cut to the chase. This book has two writers, usually that means one is an idea guy and the other fleshes things out into the full story. This book has ideas, good ideas, but man is the stuff in between just trash. So much of it is taken up with characters talking about, thinking about or having sex, in a story where sex is not a relevant part of the plot at all. The story would have been served better in a much shorter format with the fat cut out of it.
Anyways the story had quite a few characters, none of em very likable. And a lot of them were introduced just to be killed off shortly thereafter.
June 12, 2017
This book was a quick and fun b-movie that will please any fan of horror and ridiculous storylines. The ending is rather anti-climactic, so don't expect a Jaws-style "smile you son of a bitch" stylings. Still, fun read from two great authors.
March 3, 2018
pretty good story. ending felt a bit rushed and unfinished.
December 20, 2024
didn't vibe with this as much as i thought i would, but enjoyable enough!
January 30, 2015
A TOP SHELF review originally published in the January 30, 2015 edition of The Monitor.
As a fan of monster movies and books, I would say that any good example of the genre needs three essential elements: an awesome monster, a series of great kills and a kick-butt expert. An unexpected hero is great, but not necessary. Think of Jaws as a template, with its great white, its shark hunter Quint and its police chief Brody.
Bottom Feeders by Adam Cesare and Cameron Pierce hits all these sweet spots. The fast-paced book takes place on the Mississippi River, where a massive, semi-truck-sized catfish has arisen from the depths to eat humans and spawn.
The fodder characters are compelling enough that the kills hurt (always refreshing in monster tales), and we have a great Quint-analogue in Chase (and his teen sidekick Lucinda). The identity of the hero is a bit of a twist, so I’ll hold that back, as I will the final moment of the book, a clever play on the typical jump-scare that ends so many horror flicks.
Cesare and Pierce clearly had fun writing this, and you won’t regret picking it up if you’re a fan of great monsters.
As a fan of monster movies and books, I would say that any good example of the genre needs three essential elements: an awesome monster, a series of great kills and a kick-butt expert. An unexpected hero is great, but not necessary. Think of Jaws as a template, with its great white, its shark hunter Quint and its police chief Brody.
Bottom Feeders by Adam Cesare and Cameron Pierce hits all these sweet spots. The fast-paced book takes place on the Mississippi River, where a massive, semi-truck-sized catfish has arisen from the depths to eat humans and spawn.
The fodder characters are compelling enough that the kills hurt (always refreshing in monster tales), and we have a great Quint-analogue in Chase (and his teen sidekick Lucinda). The identity of the hero is a bit of a twist, so I’ll hold that back, as I will the final moment of the book, a clever play on the typical jump-scare that ends so many horror flicks.
Cesare and Pierce clearly had fun writing this, and you won’t regret picking it up if you’re a fan of great monsters.
October 14, 2019
It's been a long time since I read a great "creature feature" story, and this collaborative effort between Cameron Pierce and one of my favorite bards of the macabre, Adam Cesare, scratched the itch.
This is not high literature by any means, but if you are like me and are most scared of what could be under the murky muddy waters of your favorite swimming hole, this is the story for you. In the vein of "Lake Placid" or "Crater Lake Monster," this novella really captures the feel and thrills of Sunday morning monster on the loose reruns on television. And as silly as the premise may seem, it is quite scary and the ending is surprisingly dark.
The cult that features in this story is a distraction and is unnecessary, unless the authors were going to take time to develop the concept further and make a longer novel out of this. But this is a minor complaint in an otherwise very enjoyable romp in the swamp.
This is not high literature by any means, but if you are like me and are most scared of what could be under the murky muddy waters of your favorite swimming hole, this is the story for you. In the vein of "Lake Placid" or "Crater Lake Monster," this novella really captures the feel and thrills of Sunday morning monster on the loose reruns on television. And as silly as the premise may seem, it is quite scary and the ending is surprisingly dark.
The cult that features in this story is a distraction and is unnecessary, unless the authors were going to take time to develop the concept further and make a longer novel out of this. But this is a minor complaint in an otherwise very enjoyable romp in the swamp.
March 29, 2023
While still delivering on the fins and fangs that Severed Press does so well, Bottom Feeders remains wonderfully weird. The plot constantly delivers turns you don't see coming (don't get too attached to everyone) and doesn't take itself too seriously while still generating tons of tension. The true star of the book is the catfish cult, a group of scale wearing weirdos who have dedicated their lives to worshipping an ancient mother fish. Bottom line: Bottom Feeders is a helluva ride with an ending you won't see coming.
April 16, 2015
A very enjoyable pulp horror novella about a giant catfish terrorising the Mississippi. I was hooked, literally! I couldn't put it down, and, if Cesare and Pierce are reading this, it would make an ace movie!
January 21, 2015
A fish tale
A fast paced read with some interesting facts, a giant fish and a strange religious cult bring terrifying results it make a cool movie
A fast paced read with some interesting facts, a giant fish and a strange religious cult bring terrifying results it make a cool movie
April 8, 2015
Disappointing
A few exciting parts to this story, but overall it I gs lacking in full story content. A weird nonsensical ending.
A few exciting parts to this story, but overall it I gs lacking in full story content. A weird nonsensical ending.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews