Confessions of a Pod Person (2005)

Author Chuck McKenzie
Publisher MirrorDanse Editions
Length 160 pages
Genre Short Story
Blurb None Listed
Country

Talk us through it

Confessions of a Pod Person is a collection of fourteen of Chuck McKenzie's short stories. Well okay fifteen if you want to count the short lycanthrope abduction yarn on the back cover. I'm actually calling that pretty unique in the annals of book publishing, where else are you going to get a short published in fill on the book of a book jacket. That's not the least of the Author's sins either folks, some readers will be really grinding their teeth during reading this collection as McKenzie fires off a take no prisoners collection that one would hope is going to anger a large percentage of mainstream readers.

The Author writes in that weird Sci-Fi/horror comedy subgenre that most authors would run a country mile before tackling. The stories range from alien invasions, through the cthulhu mythos, and even touches bases with giant monsters and zombies. As the saying goes, "there's something for everyone" included in between the covers of the book.

Hold onto your jetpacks folks, we're going in!

Review

"The body? Oh, sucked into another dimension and consumed by some eldritch god, apparently…" - Ted

For the second review in a row I get to have a whinge and whine about the Editors here at ScaryMinds.com. Last time round they threw a Yank book at me, this time it's a collection of Science Fiction short stories. I mean where is it going to end, tales of sparkly vampires no doubt! Dammit we are a Down Under horror site, can we keep the focus here! Grudgingly I agreed to read the book and do the review due to the promise of giant monsters stomping cities, zombies rampaging in the hills, and some good old fashion H.P.Lovecraft homage. But I did point out I expect the next book sent my way to be an out and out horror release.

Chuck McKenzie opens Confessions of a Pod Person with the alien invasion yarn All I Want For Christmas. Right from the get go the reader is on notice that McKenzie isn't your run of the mill Sci-Fi writer and has a pretty warped view of the world. Without giving too much away this story will raise at least a smile from parents reading and no doubt a sage nod of agreement as the Author outlines how an alien invasion is thwarted by the most unexpected source. I actually had my frown turned upside down by the final page as the author had dragged me into his collection. McKenzie may be writing Sci-Fi here, but scream it to the heavens friends and neighbours, he is writing it with an Aussie voice. Clear those Arthur C Clarke books out of your bookcase, you are going to need some room for Chuck McKenzie outings.

For horror fans there's ample ammunition within the collection to keep you happily gunning down innocent bystanders. Retail Therapy visits a dark genre standard in a pretty unique way, it certain had a surprise ending for yours truly. If you have ever dealt with "that customer" then you will be right behind protagonist Quentin in this story. Like a Bug Underfoot delivers multiple huge monsters of the "there goes Tokyo" variety, but wraps a tale of urban plight and misplaced love around the big horrors. For those just itching for a good off beat zombie yarn Chuck McKenzie delivers one hell of a left field effort with The Mark of His Hands, a tradrom* story of the highest order. I'm just hoping a certain person in Rome doesn't read this one! The Shadow Over Bexley drops the reader into Lovecraft country, assuming of course the dark master ever conceived of indescribable terrors appearing down the local Masonic hall. I was actually laughing out loud during this story as a couple of weeks early I had been involved in a fundraiser for a local Masonic charity. Spot on Mr McKenzie spot on with what goes on behind the scenes down those places. And finally Eight-Beat Bar proves the Devil will have his due.

* Copyright Chuck McKenzie.

Naturally this being a Sci-Fi outing there are plenty of stories to keep the Star Ship Enterprise crew happy with life. I'm not about to go into this side of Confessions of a Pod Person but have to admit I read each and every story with some relish. McKenzie has a nasty streak when he wants and a pretty good understanding of the old "monkey's paw" adage of being careful what you wish for. Since I'm just skimming the surface of the Sci-Fi aspects I'll finish this aspect of the review by simply stating it's a pity the Writer of this volume didn't do the script for The Invasion, at least we would have got something worthwhile to watch if he had. Judging by Nicole Kidman's performance in Australia they must have been using real pods in the latest remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

After each story in the collection the Author adds a small antidotal piece about the individual tale. I actually appreciate authors doing this as it gives a better understanding of what the story is trying to convey and what the author felt when writing it. Naturally this could be a Writer's defensive mechanism to ensure we don't come away with the impression that he/she is simply stark raving mad. Your call on that one.

Overall McKenzie's writing style is of the lean and mean variety. There's no padding going on in any of the stories in Confessions of a Pod Person that I noticed, with seemingly throw away thoughts resonating by the end of each story. The Writer doesn't have any axes to grind, or at least none that dominate anywhere, so you can quite happy venture into the collection without the fear of a didactic pounding. Very accessible even to the most spasmodic reader was my final thought as I closed out on the last page of the book.

Okay I admit I had a lot of fun in country with Chuck McKenzie's collection and have requested review rights on his first book Worlds Apart. There wasn't a weak story in the entire collection and I pretty much devoured Confessions of a Pod Person in record time. Don't let the trappings of Sci-Fi put you off the book, if after a horror collection, there's enough dark matter (hehehehe) in there to keep you happy. Highest recommendation on this one kids, go grab a copy today and keep the wolf from the door!

The book should be available from MirrorDanse, amazon.com, and pretty much any specialist store worth their weight. If in doubt drop an email on mirrordanse (@) optusnet.com.au or browse to the website www.tabula-rasa.info/MirrorDanse.

ScaryMinds Rates this read as ...

Definitely a collection worth picking up and adding to your collection.