Dirty Heads

by Aaron Dries

The story of a boy who dreamed of becoming a man… But dreamed up a monster instead.

You’re on the run. Marked. Don’t think about the kid you used to be when you’re homeless and dumpster-diving in the rain. Just eat whatever you find to keep your engine full. Because the shadow with too many teeth wants you tired.

You’re easier to catch when you’re tired.

It has hunted you since the summer of 1994, back when we confessed who we were through mixtapes. When every movie at the video store had dirty heads. You were thirteen and thought you knew who you were. Only the shadow with too many teeth knew you better. It still does. And it won’t stop. Not until you come home.

Back to where it all began.

Part cosmic horror, part coming-of-age monster story, DIRTY HEADS is a terrifying read from the author of HOUSE OF SIGHS, THE FALLEN BOYS, and A PLACE FOR SINNERS

Genres: Horror, Novella, LGBT, Queer, Fiction, Lovecraftian, Adult

142 pages, Paperback

First published October 22, 2021

About the author

Avid traveler, former pizza boy, retail clerk, kitchen hand, aged care worker, video director and copywriter, Aaron Dries was born and raised in New South Wales, Australia. When asked why he writes horror, his standard reply is that when it comes to scaring people, writing pays slightly better than jumping out from behind doors. He is the author of the award-winning House of Sighs, and his subsequent novels, The Fallen Boys and A Place for Sinners are just as--if not more--twisted than his debut. Feel free to drop him a line at aarondries.com. He won't bite. Much.

Reviews

[Brandon Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think weird cosmic horror might be my favorite horror sub genre. So many I’ve loved: This Thing Between Us, It Rides A Pale Horse, The Worm And His Kings, and now Dirty Heads. I loved the slow build up, the queer coming of age story, the Y2K setting, and the absolute madness that eventually ensued!

[Stay Fetters · Rating 3 out of 5]

"My face is a mess of meat. And guilt is my deepest scar."

This reminded me of It Follows but instead of an std lurking in the shadows and haunting your every move, it’s adulthood. Adulthood that you craved and created in your mind.

This was a fantastic 90s-filled blast from the past with hair-raising horror. Please judge this book by its amazing cover!!

Be careful what you wish for. It could be deadly!

[Sarah ♡ (let’s interact!) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dirty Heads is a dark, coming of age, cosmic-horror novella, set in Australia. It will make you nostalgic for perusing the isle of your local VHS store - if you are old enough to remember it being a staple of your youth. I can relate to the main character Heath being drawn to the covers of the horror movies, and it sparking an avid interest. The time period which Dirty Heads is set in is the late 90s, going into the year 2000.

The writing style here is amazing, it flows really well. I devoured this story in one sitting! I found myself really empathising with Heath. He is battling with eternalised homophobia, made worse by bullying at school. People are assuming his sexuality without him even being out, including an older girl called Tina who he wanted to impress whilst he is at war with his truth.
”What was happiness when people you didn’t even know hated you? Where did you fit in? Why do you exist? So, maybe, you shouldn’t exist. Maybe I shouldn’t exist”.
Things aren’t much easier for Heath at home, he finds out that his Dad is having an affair with a red-headed woman. His Mum seems broken by this. One day, his Dad disappears, what has happened to him?

4.5 Stars

TW: bullying; homophobic language used by the bully characters

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m gonna be totally honest here and say I can’t even describe what I just read, but I know it was hauntingly beautiful so that’s all I need to know. A contemporary meets horror coming of age that is weird and beautiful and eery all at once!

[Stephanie (Books in the Freezer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
The writing was fantastic and I loved the 90s nostalgia, queer coming of age elements and the countdown chapters, but there were parts in the middle that were a bit slower that lost me. I will be reading more by this author for sure

[Maria Lago · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't think the cover quite delivers, but it was a nice read nonetheless.

[Alan Baxter · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are no gods, only teeth. This novella is simply brilliant.

[L.J. Zapico · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reseña completa en https://capsulaslj.blogspot.com/2024/...

El coming of age queer definitivo.
Una historia que se vuelve cada vez más oscura sobre la soledad, la identidad, los estigmas y las relaciones familiares con secretos de por medio.
Un terror casi cósmico, ubicado en pleno efecto 2K, en el que la construcción de la identidad afectivo sexual se torna casi monstruosa.

Un libro valiente, muy claro en sus opiniones.

[amerie ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book really has me thinking hard rn, but unfortunately i feel like I’d have to read it again to fully understand & reanalyze it

[Trista]

I had to DNF this book. This author is clearly very gifted when it comes to descriptions. Some of their descriptions were absolutely achingly beautiful, to be completely honest. Their writing is really “raw” for lack of a better word. They kind of gave me Jim Carroll vibes. But unfortunately, this book still missed the mark for me. If it had been workshopped a bit more or had some better editing I’m sure I would have adored it. This book is riddled with fragmented sentences (which I’m sure was a stylistic choice, albeit a jarring one). There were also a lot of really awkwardly worded sentences that my brain kept trying to rewrite so often that I couldn’t concentrate on the plot. The segments told in the present tense kept sliding into past tense with no explanation or reason.

There were also things like:
“Lincoln, who was born in Hong Kong and immigrated to Australia when he was three, snatched the magazine from my hands.”

The author wants to tell us that this kid’s best friend is Chinese, but that information has literally nothing to do with that sentence or the paragraph it’s in. Are we supposed to be noticing this character’s ethnicity for some reason or the events currently unfolding? Is his being Chinese relevant to what’s happening right now or is this just some attempt to describe him since he’s just now being introduced? This information could have been divulged in a better way and not just as an irrelevant aside to the main action.

I want to not be jarred or annoyed or confused. I’m definitely into experimental writing, but you have to know the rules to break them properly. I’d love to see what this author could accomplish with a really good editor.

[ash · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not really sure what this was. Some good writing, but the story just felt weirdly visceral and opaque simultaneously in a way that made it hard to latch into it enough to care about anyone or anything, which I think the length contributed to as well. I really wanted this to work -- I wanted the bully to come back around, I wanted the best friend to matter, I wanted any of it to have meaning, even if it ended in tragedy -- but it just... didn't do anything with itself. Tragically, the book cover is better than the story inside.

[johnny ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

incredibly strong start, incredibly weak finish. the quality of the prose deteriorated over time. the backwards linear perspective was quite interesting, but hurt the story overall in the end.

[Nina The Wandering Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was no way in hell I was going to pass up on reading DIRTY HEADS by Aaron Dries after seeing the cover art (and yes I AM the type to judge a book by its cover. Look at it!!!)

If you haven’t read it yet, lemme paint you a picture without giving too much away. This book is a throwback to the 90’s and follows Heath, an adolescent trying to figure himself out and learn what it means to grow into a man while his world starts to crumble around him and a monster birthed from the unknown is let loose. A lot of things in Heath’s life are frightening and confusing— as growing-up for young teens tends to be—and many readers will be taken on a heartbreaking if not relatable journey. This is a coming-of-age cosmic horror novella with short chapters that start from twenty and count down to zero, giving the reader a sense of urgency.

Definitely give this book a read if you love unconventional monster stories!

[clumsyplankton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A weird cosmic horror which I really enjoyed.

[Richard Bankey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one just didn't click for me.

[Brennan LaFaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprise! Happy Halloween and here comes a brand new novella from Aaron Dries. An unexpected release from the author of such gems as Where the Dead Go to Die (w/ Mark Allan Gunnells) and A Place for Sinners is a big enough treat in and of itself, but this one is truly special.
Harking back to the days of video store VHS, Dries leans into the concept. Interior art/formatting from Scott Cole provides us with some special surprises that will make the paperback of this one worth owning. Chapters run from twenty down to zero, providing the reader with a countdown, asking us to read with a touch of urgency. The prose, both frantic and tinged with heartbreaking beauty, only completes the picture.
At its heart, Dirty Heads is a monster novella, but Dries has wrung his essence onto every page, every paragraph to make this a crucial addition to coming-of-age literature. Heath Spooner will work his way into the reader’s heart quick as a whip, and though his specific troubles may not mirror the readers, Dries leans into the struggle with identity and becoming the person you’re meant to be despite, and sometimes because of, the obstacles surrounding you.
Terrifying, heartfelt, and at times deeply weird, Dirty Heads is more than just a Halloween treat. This is a novella you can, and likely will, read year-round.

[Alex | | findingmontauk1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was weird and awesome. DIRTY HEADS by Aaron Dries is a perfect queer, cosmic horror novella that you need. And coming-of-age? Yes, please! Our main character, Heath, definitely struggles coming to terms with who he is, his world full of confusion and frustration. It blends together real bullies and bad people with internal evils so nicely all held together by Dries' storytelling craft. The format + countdown of the chapters only feeds your desire to swallow this story whole in a single sitting. It's thrilling and sad at the same time. And if you love this delicious cover as much as I do, then just wait until you see what else the book has to offer you...

Check this one out!

[☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Confusing but the writing was great .

[Repellent Boy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5. Heath Spoons no es como los demás adolescentes de su escuela, sabe que tiene algo diferente creciendo en su interior. Aunque tiene una familia a la que quiere e incluso a un mejor amigo llamado Lincoln, lo que realmente le mueve, lo único que de verdad le interesa y que le hace evadirse de esa sensación de no encajar, es el cine de terror. Son los noventa y no es difícil encontrarse con cientos de videoclubs donde alquilar películas de terror, y aunque no tiene permitido hacerlo, se contenta con visitar Top Universe Vídeo para dibujar las imágenes que muestran las cubiertas de estas películas. De esta manera, a través de sus dibujos, Heath imagina sus propias historias, hasta que un día empieza a sentirse raro. No sabe si esta extrañeza es producto de que acaba de descubrir que se siente atraído por los chicos o es algo más, algo que parece acecharlo en la oscuridad.

Acabo “Cabezales sucios” de Aaron Dries con una mezcla agridulce en la boca, ya que, por una parte, he empatizado muchísimo con su protagonista, con su manera de sentir y sus forma de escapar de la realidad, pero por otra, pese a que todo lo que pasa lo he disfrutado, siento que se ha quedado demasiado en la superficie, que las cosas ocurren muy deprisa y se precipitan tanto que parece que el autor estuviera en una carrera por finalizar la novela lo antes posible, lo cual es una absoluta pena porque tenía un material muy bueno en el que seguir profundizando, pero voy a centrarme en hablar un poquito de lo que sí me ha gustado mucho.

Lo primero que me hizo conectar con Heath fue su gusto por el cine de terror, no solo porque ama tanto el género como lo he amado yo desde de niño, sino porque lo hace hasta el punto de usar este tipo de películas para desconectar o para evadirse des sus problemas. El cine de terror ha sido y siempre será una de mis cosas favoritas y a través de estas películas, en general tan salvajes, yo me sentía un poquito más en el mundo, menos raro. Con relación a esto, el autor hace un símil muy interesante entre el monstruo en el que Heath cree que se está convirtiendo en este mundo donde salirse de la norma y ser gay es algo cuestionable, algo que todo el mundo está dispuesto a criticar y criminalizar, con el monstruo que parece seguir a nuestro protagonista. Heath llega a lanzar reflexiones muy interesantes relacionando ambas cosas, mostrando como la sociedad, tus amigos o tu propia familia puede hacerte sentir.

Esperaba encontrarme con una obra juvenil donde destacara una narración sencilla que cumpliera, pero nada del otro mundo y, sin embargo, me he topado con un libro muy bien escrito, repleto de citas y reflexiones que he marcado, que me hacían pararme un momento para pensar en ellas por lo fácil que me resultaba entender los sentimientos y las sensaciones de las que hablaba Heath. Realmente me ha gustado mucho como escribe Dries y me ha parecido muy interesante la estructura de la novela.

En cuanto a la historia de terror en sí, siento que está muy bien creada, conectada con los personajes y sus emociones desde un lugar muy interesante. El autor logra crear una atmósfera tensa, sumergiendo al lector poco a poco en la trama, la cual se presenta algo dispersa al inicio, pero va mostrando pistas conforme esta avanza, consiguiendo que los giros realmente sorprendan. También tiene momentos terroríficos y muy sangrientos que cumplen a la perfección con el género, incluyendo todo lo que espero de una buena historia de terror, incluso cerrando con un tercer acto impecable y muy emocionante.

La conexión que he sentido con su protagonista, ha hecho que incluso me emocione con algún pasaje en concreto o con alguna escena que me ha dado lástima. Es una gozada empatizar con los personajes, es lo que más valoro de una obra, y Heath Spoons es uno de esos que, por una mezcla de motivos, me ha cautivado. Otro puntazo que tiene la obra es la estética noventera, la ropa, la cultura o esos videoclubs que tanto me encantaban de adolescente, donde me pasaba horas seleccionando pelis de terror. Para los amantes del género es imposible no enganchar con esta ambientación, les evoca, por un lado, a su juventud y, por otro, a todas esas pelis de terror de esa época que veíamos una y otra vez hasta que el VHS dejaba de funcionar o la cinta se liaba y había que coger un boli bic para volver a encajarla. Toda una experiencia.

Por este motivo, me da mucha rabia que el libro sea tan corto y la trama avance a zancadas, porque ese ritmo que pasa de trepidante, a excesivamente acelerado, sumado a la brevedad de la obra, provoca que una historia que podría haber sido perfecta se sienta inacabada. Me hubiera gustado algo de reposo tras los sucesos de mayor importancia, quería seguir conociendo a Heath, descubriendo sus emociones, como se enfrenta a su monstruo interior, y al que lo persigue en la oscuridad. Aun así, recomiendo mucho “Cabezales sucios”, hasta el punto de que pienso seguir con la obra del autor. Esto no es una reseña negativa, ni mucho menos, es más bien una recomendación de un libro que me ha gustado mucho, pero incluyendo una pequeña queja a que el autor no se permitiera profundizar en la obra un poco más y haberla convertido en algo redondo.

[Dion Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars out of 5 rounded up.

This is one of those stories that messes with your head a bit, like Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, or like a Paul Tremblay story, or if you have not read those, think of movies, like ‘In the Mouth of Madness’ from 1994, or 12 Monkeys from 1995.

There is a mix of a boys coming of age internal struggle, and cosmic horror, so you are left thinking is this real or in the boys head?

I did find the start of the book a bit confusing, the way it was switching between different characters, but by the time I got about a third of the way, I started to think it was intentional, it give you the feeling like when you wake up after surgery, you are a bit confused and not sure if everything is ok, and that ties in perfectly with what the main character is going through.

The writing has a poetic feel to it, with a lot of relatable referenced from growing up in the 80’s and 90’s, I remember the grim reaper add, and I also have fond memories of our local video store.

You can tell that the author has put a part of his soul into this story, this one will haunt you for a little while, I really enjoyed it.

[Toby · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are no gods, only teeth.

Dirty Heads is a queer, coming of age, cosmic horror novel that packs a whole lot of weird into a small page count.

There was moments I really enjoyed while reading Dirty Heads but I also found it a little bit boring as I got further in, which is a damn shame. The writing was great but I think I kinda got lost along the way. I tend to love cosmic horror, but this didn’t entirely hit me like I was expecting it to.

Although this wasn’t a great read for me, I can definitely appreciate what Dries was trying to conjure with this novella, and it’s one I would recommend if you’re wanting a queer, cosmic horror tale.

INSTA | TWITTER

[Carolina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Described as a 'cosmic horror', this novella was a short read full of sensitive but passionate content. Heath growing up in the 90s, confused and trying to find himself, is a story we can all relate to. I loved how in this novella they portray these uneasy and sometimes even shameful thoughts by creating and in a sense, giving life to this monster who is growing down in the basement. This story unfolds from the ending of the story, which I thought was pretty exciting and kept me engaged. Overall, I really loved how the story was not only about him but his whole family and how the development of both parents affected his teenage years. Last but not least, I really really enjoyed the horror as well.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first saw the cover of this, I didn’t think twice and ordered a copy immediately. Am I glad I did.

This is exactly the type of queer horror novella I wanted this to be. It’s a slow burn story, each chapter counting down while amping up the tension incredibly until it finally explodes in bloody, horrific fashion.

The writing in this is also just so good. Poetic and striking while simultaneously delivering the suspense and gore expected in horror.

Will definitely be checking out more from Aaron Dries.

[Bryan House · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Novella with teeth.

The horror from this book stems from the lemon puckering feeling when you reflect on previous versions of yourself and CRINGE.

The Layers and Nuance of this story has me reeling.

The added layer of fear from "oh no, I may be a homo"
What a little spin on the - Coming of Age- story

Oof, I felt it.

[Xavier · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a lot of elements in the story that, while interesting, aren't really serving a purpose. Why is his dad an adulterer and a murderer? Why is this teenager struggling with his sexuality? Why mention the bully at all? Why is Heath now homeless?Why is 90% of the story a flashback? There were too many story elements that I knew in the end would amount to nothing. They weren't tied together the way a coherent story should be. There's too many threads of the story left unresolved.

Was the monster even real? At first I thought it was similar to the babadook in that Heath was carrying the shame of his sexuality around and that it tore his family apart, or at least that he blamed himself for his father disappearing and his mother turning to alcohol to cope and eventually going into foster care and eventually homelessness. His shame manifested as a monster, creeping in the basement, eating the people he loved. The ending shows his final acceptance with his sexuality. The problem is that the metaphor is too weak. There aren't enough connections.

I want to believe the monster doesn't actually exist but so much time was spent on describing the monster and the carnage it caused that it's not gratifying. Either the monster was in his head and the violence was only his imagination or the monster is real and the story elements beyond the monster are just irrelevant details.

[MiniMicroPup (X Liscombe) · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was only because other reviewers reassured that this wasn’t full-on cosmic horror that I read it and I’m glad I did. It still don’t know what I think the monster was but it doesn’t matter. It was beautiful, sad, and quietly haunting.

Energy: Nostalgic. Thoughtful. Deep.
 
🐩 Tail Wags: The nostalgia and symbolism. Vivid sensory and emotional details. The way it brought me back to being 13 again (where you start noticing how flawed adults are, how fragile friendships can be, and how big the future suddenly feels). The quiet “something isn’t right” horror. The open-to-interpretation storyline.

Scene: 🇦🇺 Townsend Heights, Australia
Perspective: Our 19 yo MC is unhoused and heading back to their childhood hometown. Most of the book is a flashback to when they were 13 yo and their life unexpectedly changed for the worst.
Timeline: 1990s.  Flashback. ☀️Summer.
Narrative: Tagging along, deep in a charater’s mind, thrown in wandering through (first person)
Fuel: Origin story, mysterious past, how did our MC get here? Why is Heath living on the streets and starving at 19? What is the shadow magic he keeps referring to? Why is he heading to his hometown and what will happen when he gets there?
Cred: Speculative hyper-realism
 
Mood Reading Match-Up:
Movie posters. Mixtapes. Lemon tree. Streetlights. Crickets. The Simpsons. Warm summer air.
• Cinematic, immersive, sensory writing style
• Sympathetic, troubled characters
• Cosmic monster as metaphor
• Slice-of-life meets subtle body horror
• Nostalgic loss-of-innocence coming-of-age character study
• Summer sadness, heartbreak, best friend bonds and breaks
• Return to hometown
• Stay-out-of-the-basement
• Nuanced heartstring hits horror
• Vulnerability, family, rejection, childhood, queerness, and the pain of growing up

Content Heads-Up: AIDS (commercials, anti-gay propoganda). Animal death (cat; implied). Bullying (physical attacks, slurs). Domestic violence (implied). Homophobia (slurs, bullying, institutional, societal, anxities, internalized/shame). Infidelity (extra marital affair; parent). Loss of parent (as teen). Self harm (pinching). Unhoused, poverty. Violence against women, misogyny.
 
Rep: Australian. Chinese Australian. Cis. Gay. Hetero. Freckled, pale skin tones. Thin. Type II diabetes (peripheral).
 
📚 Format: Kindle Unlimited
 
My musings 💖 powered by puppy snuggles 🐶

[Daniel Klíe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Verano de 1994. Heath es un chico inquieto que lucha por entender por qué no es como los demás. Se acerca a las chicas sin éxito, sintiendo que hay algo mal dentro de él. Pronto, se da cuenta de que su atracción hacia los chicos no es solo una duda pasajera, sino algo profundo que lo consume, amenazando con devorar todo a su paso.

‘Cabezales Sucios’ de Aaron Dries es una novela de terror coming of age que comienza con la cotidianidad de Heath, sus dudas, sus inseguridades e incluso mostrando su núcleo familiar y el turbulento entorno de la secundaria. Todo parece normal hasta que una serie de eventos inexplicables comienza a alterar su realidad.

He disfrutado mucho su enfoque del terror, evocando más a ‘The Thing’ y al horror cósmico, con un miedo que se desarrolla como una bacteria o germen, modificando todo a su paso. Parte de lo particular reside en cómo el terror libera o apalanca lo que no se dice, lo que no se hace, revelando las verdaderas intenciones de los personajes sin restricciones. En este sentido, me recordó a ‘Them’ (Temporada 1).

‘Cabezales’ también explora el conflicto interno del protagonista mientras cuestiona si lo que siente está mal. El miedo se examina a través de una introspección única, que puede llegar a destruir incluso la autopercepción, llevando al protagonista a verse a sí mismo como una maldición.

Lo mejor de la novela reside en las voces del terror, en la desinhibición que surge del miedo, y en la observación de cómo los cambios afectan tanto a los individuos como a la sociedad. Además, hay un tributo considerable a los elementos pop de los 90, sumergiendo al lector en una atmósfera repleta de referencias a Los Simpson, VHS y otros íconos de la época.

Quiero y debo seguir leyendo a Aaron Dries.

4.3/5

[Pedro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este libro es una oda estupenda a los 80/90’s, con referencias claras al género del terror/slasher y con un ritmo frenético.

La historia de una familia ‘podrida’ que se ve afectada por un acontecimiento que lo desencadena todo y que se centra, especialmente, en ese sentimiento de culpabilidad por ser ‘gay’ que experimenta el protagonista. En un tiempo en el que la propaganda queer estaba asociada a la enfermedad mental y de transmisión sexual… ser queer suponía ser un paria que no debía tener un lugar en la sociedad. La novela refleja este hecho de forma reseñable.

Esta oscuridad, rechazo y odio del protagonista tiene un eco constante con su historia familiar, generando un componente Freudiano en la relación con su padre, que no es quien finge ser.

¿De dónde surgen los verdaderos monstruos de nuestra sociedad? ¿Qué consume y corroe lo que somos y lo que construimos? El monstruo que acecha en estas páginas es un revoltijo de bilis y hambre voraz dispuesto a acabar con todo, a limpiar el mundo de hipocresía y doble moral. Es también insaciable y, cuando menos lo esperas, se encuentra acechando en la próxima esquina… hasta que ya es demasiado tarde.

Con respecto al estilo del autor, es frenético y mantiene el ritmo muy bien. La extensión es perfecta así como las referencias y el reflejo de las emociones oscuras… la ambientación y la acción nos sitúan, sin duda, en escenarios mentales donde sentimos la tensión y queremos escapar constantemente.

[AgoraphoBook Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

[Bin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️ coming of age gay horror with a brutal ending!!!! Just a shame the middle had a major lull that wasn’t my fav