What Price Gory?

Author - Terry M. West (A Psycho's Medley) 

Release Date - 2014

Genre - Horror

Format - E-Book (Review Copy)

Rating (out of 5):

     Last year, during my first full year at Horror Society, I switched it up and started reviewing video games and books.  What pushed me into books was befriending author Terry M. West on Facebook.  West is known for his indie films and horror literature but in recent years he has put his main focus toward his writing.  He was kind enough to send me review copies of his anthology novel A Psycho's Medley and the short Car Nex.  I loved reading both of these but my main focus has always been films so that drew all my attention and I let his more recent releases slip by me and for that I apologize.  I wanted to get back on track with West and his novels so I went ahead and checked out one of his newer releases while my wife is in the hospital waiting on a surgery.  I turned on the ol' iPad and gave West's What Price Gory? some of my undivided attention. 
     This anthology consists of eight shorts.  The shorts are as followed (and out of order); Car Nex which was reviewed in full before, What Price Gory? which follows a horror author who is trying to climb the best selling charts after an author known as the master of horror dies.  However, before he can do that he has to win a battle with the deceased author's spirit.  The third tale, The Hairy Ones, follows an elderly couple who sacrifices the young to hairy creatures that roam their farm at night.  After they have their fill the elderly couple strips down and lets them bareback them.  The Hermit's Creepy Pet follows an aspiring author who teams up with the local hermit.  The hermit has caught a legendary beast in one is his bear traps but the beast is far from death.  Cecil and Bubba Meet a Succubus follows two good ol' boys who piss off a gypsy who then lays a curse down on the two.  The two then enter a haunted house as part of a paranormal investigation where an evil succubus is accidentally awaken. Put on a Happy Face follows a little girl, Susie, who lives with her brother Billy.  Billy was once an amazing scientist but a horrible lab explosion forever changed him.  The final story, Midnight Snack, follows a business man who is not satisfied with the way his life has turned out.  One night he takes the wrong exit during a traffic jam and ends up in the worst part of town. 
     West is an amazing author.  He knows I feel that way about him and his literary gifts because I consistently tell him that.  Every thing of his I have read I absolutely loved.  With all that said, my favorite horror book to date is Brian Keene's The Rising.  This book is fucking vile, disgusting, and brutal.  However, after reading What Price Gory? I have to say that I have a new favorite and that is WPG.  I absolutely love how each tale took a different path than the one before it.  This is something that you rarely see in anthology films and novels.  Most of the time they are all linked together by something.  Don't get me wrong, it is crucial that they are all linked but sometimes you do get one that isn't but it still works.  The stories are all bold and very imaginative.  They all could easily be expanded upon which is something I strongly urge West to do.  The breakout story from this short story collection is Cecil and Bubba but I really liked Midnight Snack and Car Nex as well.  I could see all three of these spawning an entire series.  I also like West's writing style.  He doesn't try to over do and show off his intelligence.  He writes the story and keeps it simple for us dumb-asses to enjoy.  That is why he is one of my favorite authors.  He keeps it smooth and simple which is something I really enjoy.  My biggest, and only, problem I have with this collection of shorts is the fact it is a collection of shorts.  Each story has so much potential and could easily be turned into something even more amazing.  So many of these stories end leaving the reader feeling let down like the first time they had sex and barely hit the 60 second mark.  This really bums me out thinking about all the what ifs.  Overall, What Price Gory? is one hardcore fucking read.  It is fun, bloody, ghoulish, and very original.  Please check this one out immediately.