Thuglit: Issue 21 continues the anthology tradition of hard hitting noir
stories. Eight new stories that tell tales of folks living on the edges doing
what needs to be done due to compulsion or to survive. Of course, since these are short
stories, it is not possible to say much as to do otherwise would create spoilers.
It can be said that as always these tales will make you consider your own
circumstances and the realization that things could be far worse.
It was a street kid and his dog near
an on ramp in Sacramento that caused Alan to stop in “The Long Drive Home” by
William R. Soldan. Hopper and his dog, Maggie, are headed to Chicago to see
family. Maggie is a far better traveling companion.
If you have kids you are probably
well aware of the issue of life threatening nut allergy as no doubt at least
one kid in the school your child attends has this life threatening problem.
“Nut Lobby” by Preston Lang takes a different tack on the idea by focusing on
the lobbyists of both sides who make presentations before school boards and the
like. For Lydia Todd of the national peanut council it is a life and death
battle as well.
At least this time when he wakes up
Fred does not find a dead hooker in the bed with him. Still, he knows Connor
did something really bad. He is about to find out what that was in “Being Fred”
by Travis Richardson opens thanks to a phone call from Vladmir Dvoynev. A
wakeup call from him, or any other time, can’t be a good thing.
Back in Oct. 2012, the gigantic
statue known as “Big Tex” burned down to its metal frame at the Texas State Fair.
It was not terrorists, as first reported by local television stations, but a
simple electrical short. A fictionalized version of that fire is just part of
the deal in “The Night They Burned Ol’ Big Tex Down” by Christopher Fulbright.
All Darla-May and Ray have to do is get rid of Toby when the moment is right.
Fair Park in Dallas is a long way from Afghanistan, but a bullet does the same damage/death
thing everywhere.
Jamie insists on being a virgin and
plans to remain so. They have known each other since the first grade as Jamie lives
down just down the street. It isn’t surprising that sometimes the narrator goes
to the woods behind the house to check out the bedroom view in “Virgin
Sacrifice” by David Rachels. Graduation is coming and there are plans.
Cici has been gone for a few years,
but is back in Maui. In “Paradise” by Rena Robinett, Trelani is missing and
Cici is on the hunt as a mother does what she has to do.
Bad enough to come home and find
your place ransacked. Your daughter’s toys were one of the few things not
messed with while you and your family were at the movies. Especially annoying
to find out that your two AR-15s are gone. In “A Nice Pair Of guns” by Nick
Kolakowski the hunt is on for the guns and these responsible.
His father Hal told him to only
trust his eyes and ears and ignore what was on television and in the paper. He apparently
never said a word about watching out for stuff falling on your head by the way
of a crane on the hard docks of Oakland. He certainly isn’t going to say
anything at all how thanks to the blow caused by six tons of Malaysian tin
hitting his head. Jimmy is still coping with the aftermath of that is so many
ways in “Mercy” by Dale Sandlin.
The bios of eight authors involved
and the editors Todd Robinson, Allison Glassgow and Julie Mccarron bring the
latest issue to a close.
If you have read Thuglit
before you know what you are in for as this issue meets high standards. If you
have not, this series is not about unicorns and rainbows. If any are present,
they are because of your imagination is in whacked out over drive as you have
been chasing meth and alcohol the last 36 hours in a desperate attempt to get
some money together in a cock eyed plan to rip somebody off. Or, somebody hit
you over the head and you had strange dreams while lying unconscious as god
knows what went on around you and to you. Thuglit: Issue 21 is another
dark read and another good one.
Material was purchased to read and
review back in late January by way of funds in my Amazon Associate account.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2016
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