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Crazy-Ass Stories For Crazy-Ass People
This quirky collection of short stories (and one novella) by Andy Rausch contains something for readers of every stripe. Rausch touches on a variety of genres, including horror, comedy, crime, and even Western, but every story features his unique, offbeat wit, superb writing, and razor-sharp dialogue, all delivered from a decidedly off-kilter perspective. His work has been praised by the likes of Cape Fear screenwriter Wesley Strick and Fort Apache the Bronx author Heywood Gould. Author Peter Leonard once compared his writing style to that of his father, Elmore Leonard. Storylines include a naive little boy mistaking a burglar for Santa Claus, bumbling white supremacists attempting to resurrect the dead body of Adolf Hitler, a man who develops an unexplainable craving for the taste of human flesh, a would-be author summoning the spirit of dead novelist Charles Bukowski to assist him writing, a showdown between legendary lawman Wyatt Earp and a deadly serial killer on the dusty streets of Tombstone, and many more. So ask are you a little bit crazy, and if so, are you up to the task of reading these twenty-two wild and crazy tales of darkness, wackiness, and outright debauchery?
225 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 25, 2019
1 person is currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
Andy Rausch
93 books52 followersAndy Rausch is the author or editor of more than fifty books. His nonfiction (as Andrew J. Rausch) includes My Best Friend's Birthday: The Making of a Quentin Tarantino Film, The Cinematic Misadventures of Ed Wood (w/ Charles E, Pratt Jr.), and Perspectives on Stephen King.
His fiction includes Layla's Score, American Trash, and Bloody Sheets. Several of his books have been optioned for film and his work has been translated into French, Spanish, Portugese, and Chinese. He is a web editor at Diabolique magazine and the screenwriter of the film Dahmer vs. Gacy.
He has edited numerous anthologies that have featured the work of such writers as Joe R. Lansdale, Max Allan Collins, Stewart O'Nan, John A. Russo, Richard Chizmar, Peter Leonard, Wrath James White, Stephen Spignesi, Richard Christian Matheson, etc.
His fiction includes Layla's Score, American Trash, and Bloody Sheets. Several of his books have been optioned for film and his work has been translated into French, Spanish, Portugese, and Chinese. He is a web editor at Diabolique magazine and the screenwriter of the film Dahmer vs. Gacy.
He has edited numerous anthologies that have featured the work of such writers as Joe R. Lansdale, Max Allan Collins, Stewart O'Nan, John A. Russo, Richard Chizmar, Peter Leonard, Wrath James White, Stephen Spignesi, Richard Christian Matheson, etc.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 18, 2020
Here’s a book for lovers of seriously-dark (can’t-afford-a-25-Watt-bulb-and-my-cardboard-box-of-a-house-will-ignite-if-I-even-light-a-candle-and-I-used-to-read-obituaries-by-the-light-of-a-pet-firefly-but-I-ate-it-type-dark) short stories.
These 21 short stories and one novella are a tour de force of the above genre, whatever it is. A mixture of crime, horror, zombies, supernatural, a western (that’s the novella) and a few that just don’t belong anywhere but still very dark, and a couple which are dark but yet so sweet that I can’t call them horror… yep, all dark. Now that might sound like a bit too much of a cut-your-throat type book for a time like this (don’t worry about when you read this review, it will always be a 'time like this') but that would be to discount the irrepressible, wicked humour that pervades these stories. If you’re someone who likes dark books, you’ll find this collection a wonderful break from your normal diet of antisocial gloom and it might brighten your life so much that you could start getting really sunny and inviting your mates round (without eating them) or even sharing your sandwiches at work (without poisoning them).
The particular 'time like this' when I write this review is the middle of the beginning of the 2020-Corona-Virus-Plague-Nightmare-Thingy, so I did start worrying as I read these stories that the characters in them didn’t seem to have an antiviral wipe or a hygiene mask to share between them (or if they did, they had in fact all shared it and used it for a number of unfortunate purposes as well). One way or another most of them seemed to belong to the kind of vulnerable group that helpful community groups don’t go all-out to help. In fact (I grimace to say this) quite a few of them seemed to belong a bit firmly to the scum-of-the-earth variety of non-voting citizen that politicians might be quite happy to have some virus eradicate. So if you meet any of them, have a heart, offer them a hand-wipe, give them one of your hoarded loo-rolls and spare a plate of that pasta that you’ve just cleared off the shelves at the supermarket. They need it. And under the unappetising exterior, they’re nice folk really, just like you. Sort of. In a crazy-ass way.
BTW I wrote this review for a Blackthorn Book Tour, but I bought the book - none of those cheaty ARC things for me. You should buy it too.
These 21 short stories and one novella are a tour de force of the above genre, whatever it is. A mixture of crime, horror, zombies, supernatural, a western (that’s the novella) and a few that just don’t belong anywhere but still very dark, and a couple which are dark but yet so sweet that I can’t call them horror… yep, all dark. Now that might sound like a bit too much of a cut-your-throat type book for a time like this (don’t worry about when you read this review, it will always be a 'time like this') but that would be to discount the irrepressible, wicked humour that pervades these stories. If you’re someone who likes dark books, you’ll find this collection a wonderful break from your normal diet of antisocial gloom and it might brighten your life so much that you could start getting really sunny and inviting your mates round (without eating them) or even sharing your sandwiches at work (without poisoning them).
The particular 'time like this' when I write this review is the middle of the beginning of the 2020-Corona-Virus-Plague-Nightmare-Thingy, so I did start worrying as I read these stories that the characters in them didn’t seem to have an antiviral wipe or a hygiene mask to share between them (or if they did, they had in fact all shared it and used it for a number of unfortunate purposes as well). One way or another most of them seemed to belong to the kind of vulnerable group that helpful community groups don’t go all-out to help. In fact (I grimace to say this) quite a few of them seemed to belong a bit firmly to the scum-of-the-earth variety of non-voting citizen that politicians might be quite happy to have some virus eradicate. So if you meet any of them, have a heart, offer them a hand-wipe, give them one of your hoarded loo-rolls and spare a plate of that pasta that you’ve just cleared off the shelves at the supermarket. They need it. And under the unappetising exterior, they’re nice folk really, just like you. Sort of. In a crazy-ass way.
BTW I wrote this review for a Blackthorn Book Tour, but I bought the book - none of those cheaty ARC things for me. You should buy it too.
March 15, 2020
Just as the book blurb states, Andy Rausch has produced a hilarious, off-the-wall collection of twenty-one short stories and a novella, all with satisfyingly ironic and at times macabre twists. I much appreciate the author’s cutting and economic literary style and terrific dialogue. Vivid characters abound, including the ludicrous and inane Chunk, to the revolting, personal-hygiene-challenged degenerate Turk through to quirky Granny Wilkins and her special family dinner and the file predator Roach and his encounter with an attractive young woman at a gas station. Each story is distinct. Rausch manages to evoke vivid settings with the fewest words.
The novella ‘Wyatt Earp and the Devil Incarnate’ sees Deputy Marshall Wyatt Earp – in real life the legendary American West lawman and gambler of Tombstone, Arizona, best known for his involvement in the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral – dealing with a string of gruesome murders. Rausch inhabits the western genre with aplomb. I could picture the saloon, the men, the gun holsters, conjure the sound of boots on unpolished wooden floors. The tale is raw and I liked the twist at the end.
There is depth to all these tales, insights into the human condition, and oodles of amorality, derangement and hapless folk dealing with confronting situations. Rauch’s journalistic mind comes to the fore, telling it as it is, shooting from the hip, never blenching, almost as though the author is shrugging and raising his hands at his readers saying, well, people can be like that.
Where is humanity’s moral compass? Does humanity even have one? How far would you take a ‘what if’?
In all Crazy-Ass Stories for Crazy-Ass People is an elixir of a special kind, appealing to those after fast-paced shorts to escape into and get a kick out of, and those who enjoy the odd moment of pause and reflection. Highly recommended.
The novella ‘Wyatt Earp and the Devil Incarnate’ sees Deputy Marshall Wyatt Earp – in real life the legendary American West lawman and gambler of Tombstone, Arizona, best known for his involvement in the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral – dealing with a string of gruesome murders. Rausch inhabits the western genre with aplomb. I could picture the saloon, the men, the gun holsters, conjure the sound of boots on unpolished wooden floors. The tale is raw and I liked the twist at the end.
There is depth to all these tales, insights into the human condition, and oodles of amorality, derangement and hapless folk dealing with confronting situations. Rauch’s journalistic mind comes to the fore, telling it as it is, shooting from the hip, never blenching, almost as though the author is shrugging and raising his hands at his readers saying, well, people can be like that.
Where is humanity’s moral compass? Does humanity even have one? How far would you take a ‘what if’?
In all Crazy-Ass Stories for Crazy-Ass People is an elixir of a special kind, appealing to those after fast-paced shorts to escape into and get a kick out of, and those who enjoy the odd moment of pause and reflection. Highly recommended.
March 18, 2020
Crazy-Ass Stories for Crazy-Ass People is the second book I’ve read by Andy Rausch. This anthology of short stories comes with the author’s warning. And at once, I understood why. These stories are dark with unimaginable evil. When I saw the title, I knew I was in for a ride, and boy was I. The anthology comprises twenty-two stories, which I will not summarize. Each story is unique in its telling.
If you’re looking for stories that will make you cringe in horror, shiver repulsion, gasped in disbelief, laugh at sharp witticism, then these stories are for you. Mr. Rausch is excellent at rousing the senses. Literally, I smelled the bodily stench, heard bones crunch, felt steel blades pierce flesh, saw the fetid corpse, and tasted the forbidden dish. I wince even as I write this.
With this said, I enjoyed every one of these tales, no matter how horrific or unsavory the characters. This is not my typical read. When I began the first story, my eyes popped from their socket. Really! When I wanted to close the book, I kept reading. Pulled in by Mr. Rausch’s special brand of insanity, I couldn’t put the book down. Well, I guess I’m one of those crazy-ass people.
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"Most have horror elements, some have crime elements, some are funny, some are dark… Hell, there’s even a Western tale here; a very non-traditional Western about Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday battling a serial killer, but it’s a Western nonetheless."
If you’re looking for stories that will make you cringe in horror, shiver repulsion, gasped in disbelief, laugh at sharp witticism, then these stories are for you. Mr. Rausch is excellent at rousing the senses. Literally, I smelled the bodily stench, heard bones crunch, felt steel blades pierce flesh, saw the fetid corpse, and tasted the forbidden dish. I wince even as I write this.
With this said, I enjoyed every one of these tales, no matter how horrific or unsavory the characters. This is not my typical read. When I began the first story, my eyes popped from their socket. Really! When I wanted to close the book, I kept reading. Pulled in by Mr. Rausch’s special brand of insanity, I couldn’t put the book down. Well, I guess I’m one of those crazy-ass people.
https://edenisebillups.com/2020/03/18...
March 18, 2020
Dark and dirty collection of short stories (and one novella) that feature genies, sex dolls and serial killers, to name but a few. The author has a talent for dialogue, and I could hear the characters clearly as they spoke. Most of the plots, however, live up to the anthology name. A fun diversion, one that will make you laugh or cry or recoil, depending on your sensibilities.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 2, 2019
This is a brilliant collection of short stories, based in a variety of places; cities, to sea to space, with no two stories alike. Genres that you would not expect appear in this wacky collection of short stories. Just as I thought I had an idea of the plotline, it turns into a crazy-ass story.
As well as the short stories I did enjoy reading the origins of each of them, This is my first book by Andy Rausch but definitely will not be the last. I already have a new list for my TBR!
If you want a unique collection of dark and quirky stories this crazy-ass collection is definitely for you
As well as the short stories I did enjoy reading the origins of each of them, This is my first book by Andy Rausch but definitely will not be the last. I already have a new list for my TBR!
If you want a unique collection of dark and quirky stories this crazy-ass collection is definitely for you
March 25, 2020
This collection of short stories was sent to me by the lovely people at Blackthorn Book Tours. I tell you, these folks have got some good taste. I really enjoyed reading this book. There were times I laughed, times I was completely shocked and times I had both going on plus more at the same time.
This book includes twenty-one short stories AND a very creative novella (which will really get your mind going). The great thing is the plot range is all over the place with the exception that they all have that general horror component in common. Now, I don’t want to give anything away but at the end of each story I made some notes about my thoughts on that tale. I’ll give you a few general examples without spoiling any of the stories for you because, believe me, you won’t want me to ruin any of this.
First of all, the author starts off with a very honest and open introduction that totally gives you a feel for what you are about to get into. Plus, it also gives you a fair amount of insight as to the kind of guy the writer is. In reading the intro, I truly felt like this guy was my kind of people. Come to find out, he’s from Parsons, KS. which is only about two and a half hours away from me. Midwesterners tend to recognize other Midwesterners by the verbiage they use. (I call us flatlanders, especially here in the center of the country where there are no mountains or anything like that…lots of wheat and corn fields…and cattle…and fields…lots and lots of fields. But anyways, the intro is funny. Mr. Andy gives us a taste of the kind of twisted, sometimes dry, sometimes over-the-top, but always natural sense of humor he has. Reading the introduction is like Rausch is sitting right there in front of you talking with you as if you’re one of his buddies.
A lot of the stories I liked had a very Tales from the Crypt/Twilight Zone kind of feel to them. Think back to watching Twilight Zone episodes, and when you just KNEW you had it figured out. Then all of a sudden in the last five minutes, Rod Serling threw you a twist that you never saw coming and you loved it. Now apply that to the written form and you get this fantastic collection of troubling little tales, shocking stories and appalling anecdotes.
Some of my notes consisted of comments like “very eerie, excellent build up and ending, well written, moved fast, 8/10 creep meter 10/10 deviant meter, natural flow, fantastic adult take on Snow White, would make a great horror movie short, very modern day Twilight Zone.”
As you can see, getting this book would not be a wasted purchase. I highly recommend it to my readers and fans of horror novels and fans of short stories.
RATINGS
5/5 Stars
This book includes twenty-one short stories AND a very creative novella (which will really get your mind going). The great thing is the plot range is all over the place with the exception that they all have that general horror component in common. Now, I don’t want to give anything away but at the end of each story I made some notes about my thoughts on that tale. I’ll give you a few general examples without spoiling any of the stories for you because, believe me, you won’t want me to ruin any of this.
First of all, the author starts off with a very honest and open introduction that totally gives you a feel for what you are about to get into. Plus, it also gives you a fair amount of insight as to the kind of guy the writer is. In reading the intro, I truly felt like this guy was my kind of people. Come to find out, he’s from Parsons, KS. which is only about two and a half hours away from me. Midwesterners tend to recognize other Midwesterners by the verbiage they use. (I call us flatlanders, especially here in the center of the country where there are no mountains or anything like that…lots of wheat and corn fields…and cattle…and fields…lots and lots of fields. But anyways, the intro is funny. Mr. Andy gives us a taste of the kind of twisted, sometimes dry, sometimes over-the-top, but always natural sense of humor he has. Reading the introduction is like Rausch is sitting right there in front of you talking with you as if you’re one of his buddies.
A lot of the stories I liked had a very Tales from the Crypt/Twilight Zone kind of feel to them. Think back to watching Twilight Zone episodes, and when you just KNEW you had it figured out. Then all of a sudden in the last five minutes, Rod Serling threw you a twist that you never saw coming and you loved it. Now apply that to the written form and you get this fantastic collection of troubling little tales, shocking stories and appalling anecdotes.
Some of my notes consisted of comments like “very eerie, excellent build up and ending, well written, moved fast, 8/10 creep meter 10/10 deviant meter, natural flow, fantastic adult take on Snow White, would make a great horror movie short, very modern day Twilight Zone.”
As you can see, getting this book would not be a wasted purchase. I highly recommend it to my readers and fans of horror novels and fans of short stories.
RATINGS
5/5 Stars
March 18, 2020
Crazy Ass Stories for Crazy Ass People contains twenty-one short stories and a novella, written in a slew of genres: horror, crime, comedy, western. All linked together by the fact that they are “crazy-assed” (Rausch’s descriptor, not mine).
The collection is an absolute blast. Rausch’s engaging voice ensures you won’t be bored for a second, his sentences saturated with a wry sense of humor. Many stories read as if they’re straight from the Twilight Zone, but with less politics and more thrills.
With dialogue-centric narration, Rausch covers huge swaths of information in casual conversation that is anything but forced. Not an info dump in sight. He takes real people and characters from literature and inserts them into his own twisted scenarios, producing incredible results. At the same time, death plays a prominent part throughout the collection, sometimes shocking, sometimes humorous, often both.
Some stories shine above others. In “Sandwich Bitch” a factory worker hopes to resolve a lunchroom kerfuffle by poisoning the sandwich being stolen. This is an example of Rausch’s gift of making a murderer into a sympathetic protagonist, a technique he uses throughout the collection to stunning success.
“It’ll Make You Feel Better” shows us a man guilty about his brother’s passing. To assuage this, his therapist suggests he write an email to his deceased brother … only to have him respond. It was one of the most powerful stories in the collection, with an emotional impact that resonated within me.
Both “The Day Fat Terry Brought Dead Hitler to Iowa” and “Snow White and the Seven Bastards” are full on bizarro. The former is a hilarious parody of Neo-Nazi culture in America, while “Snow White” gives us a dark, modern version of the classic fairytale about a white-trash Snow White and her lascivious past.
The collection concludes with a novella entitled “Wyatt Earp and the Devil Incarnate.” It starts out as the classic tale of the Earp Brothers and Doc Holliday in Tombstone, but soon morphs into a mystery as they search for a serial killer murdering prostitutes. While I normally avoid westerns like the plague, Rausch’s engaging storytelling had me riveted, even if it was a little predictable.
Of course, not every story was a success. In “Rachel in the Moonlight,” a widower buys a sex doll identical to his deceased wife. Though meant to be heartbreaking, this dark story fell flat for me. “Gypsy’s Curse” was the low point of the collection. It wasn’t much more than a description of bikers fighting zombies on a boat—predictable and uninteresting.
Who should read this book? It has a wide potential audience as it ventures in so many directions. I imagine any fan of horror, crime, and/or bizarro would enjoy it. But really anyone who likes short, fast, addicting stories will gain something from this collection.
The collection is an absolute blast. Rausch’s engaging voice ensures you won’t be bored for a second, his sentences saturated with a wry sense of humor. Many stories read as if they’re straight from the Twilight Zone, but with less politics and more thrills.
With dialogue-centric narration, Rausch covers huge swaths of information in casual conversation that is anything but forced. Not an info dump in sight. He takes real people and characters from literature and inserts them into his own twisted scenarios, producing incredible results. At the same time, death plays a prominent part throughout the collection, sometimes shocking, sometimes humorous, often both.
Some stories shine above others. In “Sandwich Bitch” a factory worker hopes to resolve a lunchroom kerfuffle by poisoning the sandwich being stolen. This is an example of Rausch’s gift of making a murderer into a sympathetic protagonist, a technique he uses throughout the collection to stunning success.
“It’ll Make You Feel Better” shows us a man guilty about his brother’s passing. To assuage this, his therapist suggests he write an email to his deceased brother … only to have him respond. It was one of the most powerful stories in the collection, with an emotional impact that resonated within me.
Both “The Day Fat Terry Brought Dead Hitler to Iowa” and “Snow White and the Seven Bastards” are full on bizarro. The former is a hilarious parody of Neo-Nazi culture in America, while “Snow White” gives us a dark, modern version of the classic fairytale about a white-trash Snow White and her lascivious past.
The collection concludes with a novella entitled “Wyatt Earp and the Devil Incarnate.” It starts out as the classic tale of the Earp Brothers and Doc Holliday in Tombstone, but soon morphs into a mystery as they search for a serial killer murdering prostitutes. While I normally avoid westerns like the plague, Rausch’s engaging storytelling had me riveted, even if it was a little predictable.
Of course, not every story was a success. In “Rachel in the Moonlight,” a widower buys a sex doll identical to his deceased wife. Though meant to be heartbreaking, this dark story fell flat for me. “Gypsy’s Curse” was the low point of the collection. It wasn’t much more than a description of bikers fighting zombies on a boat—predictable and uninteresting.
Who should read this book? It has a wide potential audience as it ventures in so many directions. I imagine any fan of horror, crime, and/or bizarro would enjoy it. But really anyone who likes short, fast, addicting stories will gain something from this collection.
March 15, 2020
This is a diverse collection of short stories, dark and certainly quirky.
Each of these tales are unique, set in different locations such as cities, in space and even the sea.
There is comedy, crime and horror with a dark wit and a certain warped skew to each story. Decidedly Crazy-Ass and such great fun.
Thank you to Blackthorn Tours for the opportunity to read Crazy-Ass Stories for free. This is my honest and unbiased review.
Each of these tales are unique, set in different locations such as cities, in space and even the sea.
There is comedy, crime and horror with a dark wit and a certain warped skew to each story. Decidedly Crazy-Ass and such great fun.
Thank you to Blackthorn Tours for the opportunity to read Crazy-Ass Stories for free. This is my honest and unbiased review.
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December 15, 2019Please see blog for [K]'s review: https://thepturnersbookblog.wordpress...
March 17, 2020
I was offered a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I love short stories. I write them myself, and I read an awful lot of them in my spare time. One of my favourite stories ever is a short piece: Karel Capek's From the Point of View of a Cat. So when I was offered the chance to review a short story collection, I was thrilled.
Rausch begins his collection with a self-aware, tongue-in-cheek introduction in which he asks the reader if they are a "crazy-ass people" because that is who the book is written for. It got me thinking; am I a crazy-ass people? It certainly set the tone for the rest of the stories. The collection is neatly tied together with thematic threads that run through each story. Almost all of the stories are horror- or crime-related, though some are oddly sweet, and there is a heavy dose of dark humour added to each and every tale.
I find Rausch's narration interesting. There are no flowery descriptions or purple prose. The narration is simple and straight to the point, and in this came my one hesitation to loving this collection. It was enjoyable, don't get me wrong, but it did leave the stories feeling a little superficial and predictable. I didn't have an emotional connection to the characters.
Luckily, this did not retract from my enjoyment of this collection. These stories are funny and cover some ridiculous concepts, but most of all they're fun. Some of my favourites, in no particular order, were The Sweetest Ass in the Ozarks, Santa's Little Helper, and The Gypsy's Curse.
I also really enjoyed the novella included towards the end of the collection. It contained a twist I genuinely didn't see coming. I don't often read Westerns, but this one is one of the strongest pieces in the collection.
Overall, I enjoyed most of the stories. While Rausch's writing style isn't quite for me, I did like his unique take on some classic ideas. I guess, in the end, I am one of those crazy-ass people. If you're looking for something short and sweet but overwhelmingly fun to read, I highly recommend Crazy-Ass Stories for Crazy-Ass People.
I love short stories. I write them myself, and I read an awful lot of them in my spare time. One of my favourite stories ever is a short piece: Karel Capek's From the Point of View of a Cat. So when I was offered the chance to review a short story collection, I was thrilled.
Rausch begins his collection with a self-aware, tongue-in-cheek introduction in which he asks the reader if they are a "crazy-ass people" because that is who the book is written for. It got me thinking; am I a crazy-ass people? It certainly set the tone for the rest of the stories. The collection is neatly tied together with thematic threads that run through each story. Almost all of the stories are horror- or crime-related, though some are oddly sweet, and there is a heavy dose of dark humour added to each and every tale.
I find Rausch's narration interesting. There are no flowery descriptions or purple prose. The narration is simple and straight to the point, and in this came my one hesitation to loving this collection. It was enjoyable, don't get me wrong, but it did leave the stories feeling a little superficial and predictable. I didn't have an emotional connection to the characters.
Luckily, this did not retract from my enjoyment of this collection. These stories are funny and cover some ridiculous concepts, but most of all they're fun. Some of my favourites, in no particular order, were The Sweetest Ass in the Ozarks, Santa's Little Helper, and The Gypsy's Curse.
I also really enjoyed the novella included towards the end of the collection. It contained a twist I genuinely didn't see coming. I don't often read Westerns, but this one is one of the strongest pieces in the collection.
Overall, I enjoyed most of the stories. While Rausch's writing style isn't quite for me, I did like his unique take on some classic ideas. I guess, in the end, I am one of those crazy-ass people. If you're looking for something short and sweet but overwhelmingly fun to read, I highly recommend Crazy-Ass Stories for Crazy-Ass People.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews