Tag Archives: Anthologies

Action, Adventure, Reviews

‘Hockey Man’ Goes to an Antifa ‘Peaceful Protest’

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MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD

“Hockey Man” (by Virtual Pulp’s Henry Brown) is about a gentleman who attends an Antifa Peaceful Protest. But he doesn’t attend to help the communists. Instead, his plans are much different.

“Hockey Man” appears in Appalling Stories 4, which was published in December of 2019. So it preceded the current events we currently are witnessing. Also, as full disclosure if you don’t already know, I too contributed to AS4.

As the story draws the reader in, one of the things that stands out about the protagonist is that he clearly is not like so many people we see in the real world. Why’s that? Because he isn’t joining Antifa or meekly backing down from the terrorist group. He’s someone who has chosen a starkly different option. And from there the story explodes.

“Hockey Man” is a tale about a hero who’s driven into drastically acting because he no longer can put up with what is going on around him. It’s a story about an American who no longer can sit idly by when no one else will stand up to injustice.

Fans of men’s adventure magazines will enjoy it. And frankly, so should a lot of other people. Like action? “Hockey Man” has it. Like a tactically descriptive war tale? “Hockey Man” is it. Like a tale that unabashedly has good guys and bad guys? “Hockey Man” has that too.

Stories where fact meets fiction (or fiction meets fact) are often interesting. And “Hockey Man” definitely is fast-paced, thrilling fiction that preceded real-world events. Pick up Appalling Stories 4 today. Read it and the other great tales in the anthology.

Adventure, Fantasy, Reviews

The Chosen One by Paul Hair – a Review

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I’m not sure how intentional Paul Hair was  about paying tribute to Indiana Jones with this story, but I couldn’t help making comparisons while reading it (specifically to Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and Raiders of the Lost Ark). However, it’s more than just a pastiche or fan fiction.

The author uses pulp adventure to thematically concentrate on the old axiom: “Power corrupts; and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Which, I guess, would have made it a candidate for a spot in some of the classic adventure magazines in the heyday of pulp fiction. Except that Hair weaves in some more modern elements–like a couple typical Current Year college students assisting on the quest.

Plot-wise, The Chosen One is almost formulaic…until you get to a big twist that I honestly wasn’t expecting. Having communicated with Paul a little bit (he does blog here, occasionally) I wouldn’t figure him as an author who likes moral ambiguity. But I just don’t know for sure which character’s perspective he endorses.

There is some ideology that pops up in the story, but it’s on the subtle side, compared to his flash fiction. When I get political in my prose, I tend to use a sledgehammer. So do some of the other authors who contributed to this anthology. That’s not how Paul tackles it, unless I’m just dense. You might find yourself pondering and questioning long after you finish reading the story…which could be the author’s core purpose in writing it.

Some of the tales in Appalling Stories 4 are super-quick reads. But this one’s got some meat on it. I thought it was a fun read.

Politics/Current Events, Reviews, Satire

Apalling Stories II – a Review

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I haven’t read the first Apalling Stories, but do intend to rectify that.

This is an anthology of short speculative fiction, all linked thematically by the insanity of political correctness and so-called “social justice.” Some of them are set off-world, some take place in Earth’s future, while others are pretty close to the space-time you and I occupy.

An argument could be made that some of the stories are depressing–like classic episodes of The Twilight Zone. At the same time, there’s no denying a significant element of gratification derives from following the character arc of the SJWs who outsmart themselves, feed on each other, and otherwise are hoisted on their own petards. It’s immensely frustrating to exist in this reality wherein the wicked prosper…where there seems to be no limit to their stupidity, depravity, or hypocrisy…yet never suffer the consequences of same. And the “champions” of our side either cower in the face of evil, or betray us outright.

Each story is well-written, by authors including the newest addition to the Virtual Pulp blog lineup, Paul Hair.

One age-old purpose of fiction is to present alternatives or possibilities–how it could be in a better world. Apalling Stories 2 shows us (often with delightful irony) what it might look like if “social justice” vermin experienced actual justice.