Book Review - The Night's Neon Fangs by David W. Barbee

The Night's Neon Fangs is a book containing four novellas by David W. Barbee: The Night's Neon Fangs, Noah's Arkopolis, That Ultimo Sumbitch, and Batcop Outta Hell. Each one is an inventive take on a classic story theme. 

The titular work is a story about a man that has been bitten by an electric werewolf. The story is a vivid and well thought out version of the original werewolf story with a modern, unique twist. Can this electric werewolf learn to control his affliction?

In Noah's Arkopolis the Ark never reached land. After the flood, solid ground disappeard forever. Centuries later, Arkopolis has become a city floating on an endless ocean whose citizens are mutated ancestors of humans and animals. It is an alternate history story unlike any other.

The third work, that Ultimo Sumbitch, continues Barbee's theme of traditional story types with his own bizarre stylings. This novella has a western base with a cyborg as the protagonist, zebras and ostriches alongside horses, and a saloon that serves liquor in a gaseous state.

Barbee finishes this collection strongly with Batcop Outta Hell. At first glance, it has the appearance of the ever-popular police/detective story. McNulty’s family was killed. He wasn't able to protect them. Now he has returned from Hell to avenge them. Did I mention that he is a bat?

The Night's Neon Fangs, in its entirety, is entertaining and cohesive. It is hard to find a werewolf, western, detective, or biblical story that hasn’t been written the same exact way a hundred times. David W. Barbie creates worlds within your favorite genres that will change the way you view…well, everything.

Bizarro Trading Cards

Box of Bizarro is proud to present the world's first (to our knowledge) Bizarro Trading Cards. The cards should be available for purchase next week as single cards, multiple cards, and full sets. The set includes author cards, book cards, and more. The back of the author cards include stats, the book cards include fun facts that you may not know. Collect your favorites or the entire set.

Six Fantastic Facts from a Cat and Then You Die by GJ Hart

1) Predictable really. Think we both knew it was coming. Suppose I could've done things differently. Hate the sight of blood. I'd like to say you look surprised, but from where I'm sitting, your looking days are done.

2) I kept the secrets, Jake. The acclaimed atheist, on his knees; the tarot cards and supplication. And when you crashed, I bailed. Emotional embezzlement, Jake. Never thought I'd come to hate you, but I have.

3) I need order, Jake. I need coherent systems. I need to eat EVERY FUCKING DAY. You get in, crack one open and don't quit glugging till the voices start. All the while, I'm thinking: any minute now, any minute now. But there ain't nothing coming, JAKE. Just you, curled up, crying like a fucking baby.

4) When you asked, I heeded. I carried it to the window and made it disappear. But you, what did you do? A bit of rough and tumble in the old country and we're off. Sixteen hours in a car boot 'cos you can't front things up. You're a coward, Jake, and if there's one thing I can't stomach, it's a fucking coward.

5) No amount of advice is gonna tidy this up, but I'll say this: if someone wants tuna, don't give 'em cheese, give 'em fucking tuna! Luckily I've got options. Might scoot over to Mrs. Disrelli's. She's more fun now Geoff's dead. Good riddance, I say. Hated that parrot. But she's kind, Jake. She gets me. Plus, I don't have to listen to Bob Dylan all fucking weekend.

6) Don't believe those Swedish crime shows, Jake. Most of the time, they don't even investigate, just file it and forget it. And when they do, you think they get it right? You think we let 'em? You think Senebkay was killed in battle? You think Pentaware pulled that knife? You think they bowed before Bastet because we tore a few scorpions apart? It was fear, Jake, pure fear. Difference being, they could keep their mouths shut. Not like you lot. Believe me, if you weren't in such bad shape, I wouldn't be telling you. But you look fucked, so I'm thinking it's ok.