In this second issue, Jamais Vu proves once more that when
it comes to dark, unsettling pieces, they are second to none. That’s not to say
that I finished the issue feeling wholly satiated, but for the duration of my
reading, I was pleased to lose myself for long moments in worlds so artfully
crafted that I felt genuine jealousy after reading. For what it’s worth, I’ll
be offering comments on mostly the fiction and nonfiction pieces. I wish I
could say something about the poetry, but I’m no poet, and I fear that I’d do
the authors a disservice in attempting to review their works.
First, the
artwork of Lydia Burris who has designed the cover of all four issues as a kind
of puzzle to be put together. I can’t
wait to collect all four. My only complaint was that I wanted to see her pieces
in color, but I understand. The old
budget and all that noise.
This issue opens with Steven Wolf’s
post-apocalyptic tale “Valedictorian.” This may have been my favorite story. In
a world that has come to an end, it’s the quiet, ingrained habits that keep us
going. But deep inside those habits lurk deeper evils and, more importantly,
the need to punish those who do wrong. The ending of this took my breath away.
Beautifully done.
“The Long Lonely Empty Road” by
Billie Sue Mosiman was a piece that I very much wanted to like. I really,
really did. But what held me back was a voice telling me, “Haven’t you read
this story before?” And I had. Stephen King’s “Big Driver” tells a very similar
tale, and I’m sorry to say, that this story wanted to be “Big Driver” but
didn’t quite have the chops.
There’s a section devoted to the
sudden rise and interest in cryptid erotica, which I have to admit, I could
have done without. I completely concur with Alexandra Christian in that my frustration
over the poorly crafted salacious content detracts from those writers who are
not in it for a quick buck at the behest of some dumb yokel dazzled by monster
genitalia and the heaving bosom of some over-sexed damsel in distress.
The interview with Bobcat
Goldthwait is delightful and chock full of moments that will both surprise and
induce a chuckle.
After several pieces dealing with
Bigfoot—including a review of The Legend
of Boggy Creek and an interview with Sasquatch sculptor Jean St. John—I found
myself frustrated to see, you guessed it, the first chapter of Brad Carter’s
novel Big Man of Barlow concerning
the big fuzzy guy himself. I mean, how much Bigfoot can one girl take? It’s
like driving over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge without knowing how it works. Just
when you think you’re off the damn bridge and finally in a tunnel, you emerge
only to find yourself on the damn bridge again. But, I was glad I stuck it out
because what followed was a touching story of Hank and Gus and the Big Man. By
the end, I was wiping tears away. Carter’s characters are deftly rendered, and
with the opportunity for such subject matter to veer quickly into the land of
the cheesy, he manages to retain humanity and compassion. Bravo, Mr. Carter.
Bravo.
The story I was most excited for,
however, was Jack Ketchum’s “Oldies.” What I anticipated was the same
breathless, gut-punched feeling I had the first time I read The Girl Next Door. What I came away
with, however, was a feeling much, much different. I think that many people would
be hesitant to call this story horror, but what Ketchum has done is taken us
into the horrors of our own world, the terrifying possibilities and humiliation
and confusion that face us all. At this point, I had to put the issue down. The
story hit a little too close to home. And doesn’t that always mean the author
has done his job well?
“Functionality” by Lucy Snyder is
one of those stories that are competently told but I can never like. Because
here be dealings with children, and maybe it’s because I’m a mom now, but I
can’t handle these stories any more. Still, there’s competent writing here.
“Karmic Interventions” by William
D. Carl was exactly the kind of twisted sense of humor I appreciate when an
author can pull it off, and Carl pulled it off. A wry one, this.
Eric Beebe offers reviews of some
of the strangest movies he’s seen, and by the end, I found myself wanting to
shout at him through the pages, “Have you seen Dogtooth, Eric? Have youuu? Because I want to talk weird with
somebody who gets it.” Eric gets it.
After James Newman’s review of We Are What We Are had me chomping at
the bit to see it. By the way, Newman was the victim of an accident. If you’re
interested in helping out a genuinely good guy and awesome writer, check out
his benefit book auction.
Jeff Vandemeer’s Annihilation is a book I’ve had on my
wish list for quite some time. After reading Paul Anderson’s review, I went
ahead and bit the bullet. It’s sitting on my nightstand now like some delicious
bit of juiciness.
There are other reviews and
interviews throughout—one in particular with Jonathan Maberry whose fiction I
adore.
The English teacher in me couldn’t
help but notice a share of typos, but overall, Jamais Vu is a lovely mix of
heavy hitters and newcomers who are bound to make a splash in the genre. Definitely
looking forward to issues three and
four, and if you haven’t bought your own copies yet, what the hell are you
waiting for?
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