“An intriguing mix of film noir storytelling strained through a colander of pure bizarro.” – Tom Piccirilli,
author of A CHOIR OF ILL CHILDREN and THE MIDNIGHT ROAD.
author of A CHOIR OF ILL CHILDREN and THE MIDNIGHT ROAD.
SQUID PULP BLUES
Novella Collection
Eraserhead Press / 2008
Novella Collection
Eraserhead Press / 2008
On the surface, Thompson looks like any other blue collar New Jersey town. But beneath the working
class exterior lies a bizarro world of fetishistic crime, sleazy motels, and squid. In these three bizarro-noir
novellas, the reader is thrown into a world of murderers, drugs made from squid parts, deformed war
veterans, and a mischievous apocalyptic donkey...
class exterior lies a bizarro world of fetishistic crime, sleazy motels, and squid. In these three bizarro-noir
novellas, the reader is thrown into a world of murderers, drugs made from squid parts, deformed war
veterans, and a mischievous apocalyptic donkey...
| THE HABERDASHER |
Red Henry Hooper just got out on parole. He meets his friends, fellow small-time criminals
Dix Hayden and Grant Minissi, in a cheap motel to drink a couple beers and perhaps plan
another job. Things go sour when Grant takes some bad drugs. Meanwhile, in the next
room, strange things are happening that will make Henry's day even worse: a woman is
missing her feet and a notorious local gangster Robert Hapertas (aka The Haberdasher)
is on his way. And he's not pleased...
Dix Hayden and Grant Minissi, in a cheap motel to drink a couple beers and perhaps plan
another job. Things go sour when Grant takes some bad drugs. Meanwhile, in the next
room, strange things are happening that will make Henry's day even worse: a woman is
missing her feet and a notorious local gangster Robert Hapertas (aka The Haberdasher)
is on his way. And he's not pleased...
| THE LONGHEADS |
Tommy Pingpong knew it was a mistake sending his partner Jake into the meeting with
their boss. Now they were on the run from Peachy, a diaper-wearing gangster who would
like nothing better than to kill the both of them. On top of that, the deformed war veterans
called the longheads are buying up all the guns in town, planning something big that'll
have severe implications for the town of Thompson.
their boss. Now they were on the run from Peachy, a diaper-wearing gangster who would
like nothing better than to kill the both of them. On top of that, the deformed war veterans
called the longheads are buying up all the guns in town, planning something big that'll
have severe implications for the town of Thompson.
| THE APOCALYPSE DONKEY |
When Simon Palmer took the black envelope from the tall man in the parking lot, he
didn't know that this case of mistaken identity would make his day take such a weird
turn for the worst. When the man finally realizes that he gave the envelope to the
wrong guy, Simon is thrown into a dangerous cat-and-mouse game that finally leads
to a sleazy carnival of squid violence...
didn't know that this case of mistaken identity would make his day take such a weird
turn for the worst. When the man finally realizes that he gave the envelope to the
wrong guy, Simon is thrown into a dangerous cat-and-mouse game that finally leads
to a sleazy carnival of squid violence...
| PRAISE FOR SQUID PULP BLUES: |
"Jordan Krall’s writing takes you places you never knew you wanted to go. In SQUID PULP BLUES the place
is called Thompson, New Jersey. And here, you’ll find no shortage of violence, trauma, and more
importantly, squid. The locals may not be friendly. In fact, most of them are psychopathic assholes. But as
long as they stay on the pages where they belong, you’ll have one bloody good time in their company." –
Jeremy Shipp, author of VACATION
is called Thompson, New Jersey. And here, you’ll find no shortage of violence, trauma, and more
importantly, squid. The locals may not be friendly. In fact, most of them are psychopathic assholes. But as
long as they stay on the pages where they belong, you’ll have one bloody good time in their company." –
Jeremy Shipp, author of VACATION
"SQUID PULP BLUES is a trip to the rusted underbelly of a sunken hulk, one loaded with enough nuclear
waste to make Chernobyl seem like a giggle. By the time you return, strange new organs have blossomed
within your brain, tentacles have replaced your limbs, and you couldn't be happier about it. Krall's vision of
bizarro is not only dark and full of mystery, but guaranteed to entertain as well." - John Edward Lawson,
author of Sin Conductor
waste to make Chernobyl seem like a giggle. By the time you return, strange new organs have blossomed
within your brain, tentacles have replaced your limbs, and you couldn't be happier about it. Krall's vision of
bizarro is not only dark and full of mystery, but guaranteed to entertain as well." - John Edward Lawson,
author of Sin Conductor
"Krall has a distinctive story telling style which combine noir-crime fiction, hard-core horror, and bizarro
literature...For those few who understand the wonderful weirdness of it all, Krall satisfies in a way few authors
can." - Literary Strange Digest
literature...For those few who understand the wonderful weirdness of it all, Krall satisfies in a way few authors
can." - Literary Strange Digest
"SQUID PULP BLUES is....fun, full of slick writing, and insane situations... and you'll hate yourself for finding
excrement so funny....and entertaining." - THE HORROR FICTION REVIEW
excrement so funny....and entertaining." - THE HORROR FICTION REVIEW
"Krall explores Thompson (an overt homage to legendary crime writer Jim Thompson), New Jersey in all of
its violent, surreal, often comical detail... His plotting almost seems like standard crime novel fare: deals
gone bad, angry psychopathic assassins, bosses wronged; but he adds a sort of squidy Krallness that will
greatly appeal to lovers of bizarro fiction." - Andersen Prunty, author of THE OVERWHELMING URGE
and ZEROSTRATA.
its violent, surreal, often comical detail... His plotting almost seems like standard crime novel fare: deals
gone bad, angry psychopathic assassins, bosses wronged; but he adds a sort of squidy Krallness that will
greatly appeal to lovers of bizarro fiction." - Andersen Prunty, author of THE OVERWHELMING URGE
and ZEROSTRATA.
"Krall has quite a flair for outrage as an art form, and with SQUID PULP BLUES, he's created a wholly
unique terrascape of Ibsen-like naturalism and morbidity; an extravaganza of white-trash urban/noir
horror." - EDWARD LEE, author of THE BIGHEAD and BRIDES OF THE IMPALER
unique terrascape of Ibsen-like naturalism and morbidity; an extravaganza of white-trash urban/noir
horror." - EDWARD LEE, author of THE BIGHEAD and BRIDES OF THE IMPALER
"Full of guns, tentacles, sexual obsession, and fun and Bizarro fans shouldn't want it any other way." -
Garrett Cook, author of the MURDERLAND series
Garrett Cook, author of the MURDERLAND series
"If you like your crime gritty and infused with humor, then this is the book for you." - Eric Mays, author
of NAKED METAMORPHOSIS
of NAKED METAMORPHOSIS
"The events in these stories are outrageous and sometimes vile, but you won't want to turn away. You'll
only want to see more..." - David W. Barbee, author of CARNAGELAND and THE SUPERIOR
only want to see more..." - David W. Barbee, author of CARNAGELAND and THE SUPERIOR
"Squid Pulp Blues contains the best crime fiction that I've read in years." - Bradley Sands, author of IT
CAME FROM BELOW THE BELT
CAME FROM BELOW THE BELT
"Squid Pulp Blues is a nice marriage of mystery and horror, and should appeal to fans of Quentin
Tarantino and Elmore Leonard, as well as fans of Edward Lee and Brian Keene." - Monster LIbrarian
Tarantino and Elmore Leonard, as well as fans of Edward Lee and Brian Keene." - Monster LIbrarian