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Last Wish & The Gulf
A chilling short-short tale, "Last Wish" is Poppy Z. Brite's first piece of fiction in a decade. Also includes rare 2008 story "The Gulf."
- GenresHorrorShort Stories
15 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 21, 2016
9 people are currently reading
111 people want to read
About the author
Poppy Z. Brite
164 books3,663 followersPoppy Z. Brite (born Melissa Ann Brite, now going by Billy Martin) is an American author born in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Born a biological female, Brite has written and talked much about his gender dysphoria/gender identity issues. He self-identifies almost completely as a homosexual male rather than female, and as of 2011 has started taking testosterone injections. His male name is Billy Martin.
He lived in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and Athens, Georgia prior to returning to New Orleans in 1993. He loves UNC basketball and is a sometime season ticket holder for the NBA, but he saves his greatest affection for his hometown football team, the New Orleans Saints.
Brite and husband Chris DeBarr, a chef, run a de facto cat rescue and have, at any given time, between fifteen and twenty cats. Photos of the various felines are available on the "Cats" page of Brite's website. They have been known to have a few dogs and perhaps a snake as well in the menagerie. They are no longer together.
During Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Brite at first opted to stay at home, but he eventually abandoned New Orleans and his cats and relocated 80 miles away to his mother's home in Mississippi. He used his blog to update his fans regarding the situation, including the unknown status of his house and many of his pets, and in October 2005 became one of the first 70,000 New Orleanians to begin repopulating the city.
In the following months, Brite has been an outspoken and sometimes harsh critic of those who are leaving New Orleans for good. He was quoted in the New York Times and elsewhere as saying, in reference to those considering leaving, "If you’re ever lucky enough to belong somewhere, if a place takes you in and you take it into yourself, you don't desert it just because it can kill you. There are things more valuable than life."
Born a biological female, Brite has written and talked much about his gender dysphoria/gender identity issues. He self-identifies almost completely as a homosexual male rather than female, and as of 2011 has started taking testosterone injections. His male name is Billy Martin.
He lived in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and Athens, Georgia prior to returning to New Orleans in 1993. He loves UNC basketball and is a sometime season ticket holder for the NBA, but he saves his greatest affection for his hometown football team, the New Orleans Saints.
Brite and husband Chris DeBarr, a chef, run a de facto cat rescue and have, at any given time, between fifteen and twenty cats. Photos of the various felines are available on the "Cats" page of Brite's website. They have been known to have a few dogs and perhaps a snake as well in the menagerie. They are no longer together.
During Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Brite at first opted to stay at home, but he eventually abandoned New Orleans and his cats and relocated 80 miles away to his mother's home in Mississippi. He used his blog to update his fans regarding the situation, including the unknown status of his house and many of his pets, and in October 2005 became one of the first 70,000 New Orleanians to begin repopulating the city.
In the following months, Brite has been an outspoken and sometimes harsh critic of those who are leaving New Orleans for good. He was quoted in the New York Times and elsewhere as saying, in reference to those considering leaving, "If you’re ever lucky enough to belong somewhere, if a place takes you in and you take it into yourself, you don't desert it just because it can kill you. There are things more valuable than life."
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 23, 2016
Brite is back after a ten year hiatus from writing. These are two short stories; The Gulf was previously published in another anthology. Last Wish was written for an Etsy shopper completing her Brite collection from the author's store; the first story Brite has written in years.
Last Wish is a very quick read that shows Brite still has it. It's about a man about to kill himself by hanging. The eerie tone of the story and macabre ending proves the author hasn't lost touch with the ability to capture and frighten the reader.
The Gulf is a look at post-Katrina and how locals were still affected long after the news stopped rolling. A very touching story that even had me on Google revisiting that time in our lives and even reading about those who are still missing even now after all these years.
I fell in love with PZB back in the 1990's when I worked in a bookstore and a fellow employee suggested her to me. I soon followed the author via her Live Journal blog and continue to do so today via Facebook. I was there when she posted about Katrina, and even when she began transitioning to Billy Martin. If you've never read PZB, you won't be disappointed with this and there's an entire library of novels and short stories waiting for you from years gone by. And I hope there's more to come!
Last Wish is a very quick read that shows Brite still has it. It's about a man about to kill himself by hanging. The eerie tone of the story and macabre ending proves the author hasn't lost touch with the ability to capture and frighten the reader.
The Gulf is a look at post-Katrina and how locals were still affected long after the news stopped rolling. A very touching story that even had me on Google revisiting that time in our lives and even reading about those who are still missing even now after all these years.
I fell in love with PZB back in the 1990's when I worked in a bookstore and a fellow employee suggested her to me. I soon followed the author via her Live Journal blog and continue to do so today via Facebook. I was there when she posted about Katrina, and even when she began transitioning to Billy Martin. If you've never read PZB, you won't be disappointed with this and there's an entire library of novels and short stories waiting for you from years gone by. And I hope there's more to come!
October 22, 2016
Short but sweet...good to have the voice of Billy Martin (fka Poppy Z. Brite) back.
October 23, 2016
There are very few authors in the world who'll immediately make me drop everything I'm doing to go and purchase and read their work immediately, and Poppy Z Brite is one of them. Brite's writing was HUGELY influential on me when I was younger. He's not so much heavy on plot but more on atmosphere and description, with settings that are so tangible, you can smell the miasma of the river water and feel the stickiness of the grains of sand while you walk along the banks.
These two sort stories represent and ending and a beginning (I hope) as Brite hasn't released new fiction for a decade. "The Gulf" was the last piece he worked on before he went on a hiatus, and examines the sense of place that creeps into a person. Mired in nostalgia, it evokes environment and personal nostalgia in the aftermath of Katrina.
"Last Wish" is a deceptively simple flash piece with a wicked little hook at the end that made me gasp in delighted horror. It's short, it's nasty and it's *tight* and I truly hope that this marks the author's return to writing because this piece is *good*. The writing is tighter, has more punch than older works but features all the characteristic mood.
Brite remains my go-to for descriptive writing that paints a vivid, visceral environment.
These two sort stories represent and ending and a beginning (I hope) as Brite hasn't released new fiction for a decade. "The Gulf" was the last piece he worked on before he went on a hiatus, and examines the sense of place that creeps into a person. Mired in nostalgia, it evokes environment and personal nostalgia in the aftermath of Katrina.
"Last Wish" is a deceptively simple flash piece with a wicked little hook at the end that made me gasp in delighted horror. It's short, it's nasty and it's *tight* and I truly hope that this marks the author's return to writing because this piece is *good*. The writing is tighter, has more punch than older works but features all the characteristic mood.
Brite remains my go-to for descriptive writing that paints a vivid, visceral environment.
January 6, 2017
Two stories from PZB, aka Billy Martin. I miss PZB's words. He/she had/has an eloquence that is unequaled at times. Last Wish is a short (short) new story, but the jewel of this book is The Gulf--a deep Katrina story that is probably my favorite thing she's written. I'm hoping more words are on the horizon. PZB imagery is always a treat.
November 28, 2016
A micro-collection. I felt like I was just getting warmed up when I hit the last page.
"Last Wish" is an econ0mical-but-solid short story. I could see it as a slightly sharpened entry in Richard Matheson's "Shock" collections--that's definitely not faint praise.
I was reading "The Gulf" while flying to the very towns of the story's setting. It's definitely a transition-period stopgap piece: Martin/Brite owns up to the relationship between a section of the plot here and the basics of Bradbury's mainstream/speculative-borderland story "The Lake." Slight but enjoyable.
"Last Wish" is an econ0mical-but-solid short story. I could see it as a slightly sharpened entry in Richard Matheson's "Shock" collections--that's definitely not faint praise.
I was reading "The Gulf" while flying to the very towns of the story's setting. It's definitely a transition-period stopgap piece: Martin/Brite owns up to the relationship between a section of the plot here and the basics of Bradbury's mainstream/speculative-borderland story "The Lake." Slight but enjoyable.
March 7, 2018
Great little read
As an old fan of Brite's writing, I must say, these stories did not disappoint. The first one had that subdued, honest feel to it that was always present in his later work. The second one was all too familiar for those of us who have lived through devastating hurricanes. There was a lot of hurt there, sprinkled with resolute determination.
The only reason I rated it 4 stars instead of 5 was due to formatting issues in The Gulf, which were a little distracting. Beside that, both stories were wonderful.
As an old fan of Brite's writing, I must say, these stories did not disappoint. The first one had that subdued, honest feel to it that was always present in his later work. The second one was all too familiar for those of us who have lived through devastating hurricanes. There was a lot of hurt there, sprinkled with resolute determination.
The only reason I rated it 4 stars instead of 5 was due to formatting issues in The Gulf, which were a little distracting. Beside that, both stories were wonderful.
May 15, 2018
Two short stories; each with their own distinct draw. I have to say I loved them. Short stories can easily loose their oomph, but a good one is hard to pass up.
These are worth the read.
“The Wish” is the shortest of the two, but it captured one thought so well I reread it three times before moving onto “The Gulf.” It reflects a great deal of what I adore in Martin’s (aka Poppy Z Brite) style.
And, in a memory snapshot sort of way, “The Gulf” is a glimpse into endurance. Though not the horror genre I am most familiar with in Martin’s work, his style shows through beautifully.
These are worth the read.
“The Wish” is the shortest of the two, but it captured one thought so well I reread it three times before moving onto “The Gulf.” It reflects a great deal of what I adore in Martin’s (aka Poppy Z Brite) style.
And, in a memory snapshot sort of way, “The Gulf” is a glimpse into endurance. Though not the horror genre I am most familiar with in Martin’s work, his style shows through beautifully.
November 13, 2016
Poppy Z. Brite/Billy Martin's first new writing in ten years is a short, shocking reminder of why fans will never stop craving tales from this uniquely gifted artist.
June 17, 2019
Not what I expected
This was not a really bad story, I just would have preferred some more action. That is just me, though.
This was not a really bad story, I just would have preferred some more action. That is just me, though.
January 7, 2021
Poppy returns
A very short story, but the first they wrote in a decade. I've always loved poppy's work and for fans this won't disappoint
A very short story, but the first they wrote in a decade. I've always loved poppy's work and for fans this won't disappoint
October 23, 2016
Loved both stories!
As a longtime Poppy Z. Brite fan, I was so excited to see this new short story pop up on Billy Martin's Facebook feed. I hadn't read "The Gulf" before and that one will stick with me for a while as I know all the places written about. So glad to have a new story too!
As a longtime Poppy Z. Brite fan, I was so excited to see this new short story pop up on Billy Martin's Facebook feed. I hadn't read "The Gulf" before and that one will stick with me for a while as I know all the places written about. So glad to have a new story too!
October 23, 2016
Reading new work from Poppy Z Brite (pen name of Billy Martin) was such a thrill. His writing strikes a fine balance between macabre and humor, capturing people and place succinctly.
It was a joy to read new work from him, and I hope that this speaks of more to come!
It was a joy to read new work from him, and I hope that this speaks of more to come!
October 23, 2016
Worth The Wait
I love PZB's writing and I'm glad there's a little more out there. Last Wish is super short, but it's tight and effective. It feels like a return to some earlier time. The Gulf is heartrending. Love it. Will be rereading.
I love PZB's writing and I'm glad there's a little more out there. Last Wish is super short, but it's tight and effective. It feels like a return to some earlier time. The Gulf is heartrending. Love it. Will be rereading.
July 9, 2018
New PZB!?
Fantastic! This was a very welcomed surprise and made for a nice quick read. Would highly recommend. Thank you Billy!
Fantastic! This was a very welcomed surprise and made for a nice quick read. Would highly recommend. Thank you Billy!
October 23, 2016
After many years, a new story by one of horror fiction's greatest talents! The last lines of both stories linger in ways both poignant and terrifying.
November 5, 2016
A rare treat
As a longtime fan of poppy z write I was saddened by his loss of interest in writing for the public. Short though these pieces are, it is wonderful to read brute again.
As a longtime fan of poppy z write I was saddened by his loss of interest in writing for the public. Short though these pieces are, it is wonderful to read brute again.
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January 16, 2018Not as good as others. Wouldn't recommend.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews