Danger City: Urban Short Fiction 2005

by Jess Dukes, Jess Dukes, Contemporary Press

Fans of pulp - particularly those who like it in short, sharp doses - will appreciate this arsenal of tales penned by up-and-coming writers from across the United States. Populated by an unforgettable cast of heinous hoods and deadly dames, Danger City pumps out story after story in Contemporary Press's trademark sardonic, edgy style. Stories include a fatal run-in with a Brooklyn ice cream truck, a misunderstood clone that terrorizes urban lovers, and a Hollywood street fight that goes unnoticed.

187 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Brendan]

Urban short fiction from the peeps at Contemporary Press.

A fun, fast-paced collection that has a decent smattering of sex, violence, and moral grey areas. Not for stuffed-shirts, snobs, or prudes.

My favorites: "Delivery" (a drug dealer in Boston), by Todd Robinson; "Diary of a Super-Hero" (the kind that can fly), by Vinnie Penn; and "Jakes" (a compulsive gambler and his brother-in-law bookie), by Sean Beaudoin.

The weirdest: "Empire of One" (people cloning), by Carl Moore; "A Man's Gotta Eat What a Man's Gotta Eat" (zombies), by Dana Fredsti; and "Loving the Monster" (a man's fling with a Gila monster), by Mike Cipra.

[Brian]

Wow. Found this on a dollar cart somewhere. The stories are each an explosion of belligerent, dirty, anarchic words falling back to earth, the protagonists inured to the intensity and impossiblity of their plights.

[Dana]

Okay, I have to love this book 'cause I'm the only female author in it. I like most of the stories, love the authors and they published my favorite short story ever that I wrote.