From the Bookshelf of Splatterpunk…

Human-Shaped Fiends

Chandler Morrison

Start date: May 16, 2025

Finish date: May 18, 2025

Discussion: Buddy Reads

Why we're reading this: Buddy Read scheduled for May 16-18 (2025).
[close] Buddy Read scheduled for May 16-18 (2025).

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May 17, 2025 Pisces51 rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2025

HUMAN-SHAPED FIENDS [2021] By Chandler Morrison
My Review 2.0 Stars

Tragically, this was the final Morrison novel that my friend, a Superfan of Morrison’s, was Buddy-Reading with me on the horror book club Splatterpunk. The author was contracted to write a Splatter Western for the popular series. Morrison (through the words or content of the novella "Human-Shaped Fiends" was unwilling or unable to carry out the contractual agreement). Conversely, he chose to incorporate his personal observations a HUMAN-SHAPED FIENDS [2021] By Chandler Morrison
My Review 2.0 Stars

Tragically, this was the final Morrison novel that my friend, a Superfan of Morrison’s, was Buddy-Reading with me on the horror book club Splatterpunk. The author was contracted to write a Splatter Western for the popular series. Morrison (through the words or content of the novella "Human-Shaped Fiends" was unwilling or unable to carry out the contractual agreement). Conversely, he chose to incorporate his personal observations and thoughts as he ostensibly "pressed on" to complete a Splatterpunk Western.

The story does include a debauched tale of the old west with bullet points to include deviant sex (including incest producing a freak, sexual exploitation of the mentally handicapped, brutal rape with torture and physical assault, multiple mind-altering substances naturally including laudanum, alcohol, and opium, in addition to estranged youth). These themes inserted into the storyline were largely due to giving his fans what they expect of him. The tale is as bleak and black as Bluebeard's heart. It is about evil in deeds and in thoughts and as stark black as a starless night sky. The vignettes were like synapses of evil.

I was also not prepared for the meta-aspect of the storytelling. Personal parodies of his shortcomings are intermingled with his struggle to complete the "Western". Transgressive satire sure, and if Morrison uncaps his pen, he can make you smile if not laugh out loud. So yes, much of his writer's block was Morrison-made. It is believable that he wants to write the kind of novel his readers "expect", and he goes to the extreme of acting out some egregious elements of his " brand" at the end which I will not repeat.

The Western story has no redeeming qualities that I can see. Injecting himself into the book only makes it overall somewhat more readable. It is my opinion that Morrison should never have signed a contract to write a "Western" to join the current titles in the collection.

I am a big fan of his writing, and that does not change. There are "hits" and there are "misses". This was a " miss" in my opinion.

One final thing. The book I awarded 1 Star. The second Star was for the stunning Cover Art.
...more

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Jul 02, 2021 Michael Toft Adelholm (michael_learns_to_review) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

The cursor on my screen is just sitting there. Blinking. Mocking me. How do I start reviewing this book?! I can’t!! Even though I’ve made promises to do so. My IG reading group is counting on me. I was counting on me.

While watching my blank screen sitting there static, my coffee has gone cold and stale. I drink it anyway. I need the fix to keep going. My workstation is a mess - kids toys everywhere! Nobody would think any work got done here. LEGO bricks all over the desk…but I would rather have The cursor on my screen is just sitting there. Blinking. Mocking me. How do I start reviewing this book?! I can’t!! Even though I’ve made promises to do so. My IG reading group is counting on me. I was counting on me.

While watching my blank screen sitting there static, my coffee has gone cold and stale. I drink it anyway. I need the fix to keep going. My workstation is a mess - kids toys everywhere! Nobody would think any work got done here. LEGO bricks all over the desk…but I would rather have them at a safe distance from the floor and my feet, so I won’t have to the experience the excruciating pain of stepping on one.

Michael…you are doing it again! Talking to yourself and procrastinating.

Come on brain…what did YOU think of what I’ve just read..?!
It is too easy to say: “I loved it!! Give it all the stars that GoodReads or Instagram can handle. “. But I did love it. And it does deserve all the stars. I loved that it tried to be a different beast than the other splatter westerns. And that Morrison tried to tread on new ground. I looooved the meta-layers (Never go full meta!).
As with his other books, ALONG THE PATH TO TORMENT and DEAD INSIDE, Morrison’s writing style hits home for me - it feels like a warm cozy blanket that massages your body…no matter how depraved the words or subject matter is.
I won’t even go into any plotlines here as I won’t be able to do it any justice - and any reader should have the experience of going into it blind.
THIS BOOK IS FUCKED UP - I was told. And fucked up it was - but compared to the two former books of his, I still found this one less fucked. Maybe my brain only has grown accustomed to all the checked boxes that Morrison needs to hit?! And having Morrison paint himself into a corner and checking of said boxes, only fills my reading heart with joy, and makes me want to yell: KEEP EM COMING, MORRISON! I love what you are doing with your brand.

Hmmm…maybe I should written some of these thoughts down…

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

@deaths_head_press @chandler.morrison @justintcoons #humanshapedfiends #splatterwesterns ...more

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Aug 03, 2021 Ashley rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: horror, westerns

This is some wild shit. I'll be honest, I still don't know what the hell I just experienced with this book. It's utterly bonkers, weird, crazy, brutal, absolutely fuckin' gross, and I loved every single moment of it.

I've heard a lot of people say that this level of weirdness is something they expect from this author, this being my first experience with his work, I can't comment on that. But it has made me want to read everything he's ever done. It also has insanely genius interludes where the a ...more

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