Blood, Guts, & Whiskey: Neo-Noir Fiction to Rattle Your Brain (2010) Anthology

Collected here for the first time in book form, the stories in "Blood, Guts, and Whiskey" are down and dirty, sexy and violent, pushing the envelope with no-holds barred writing and characters who pack a punch - and then some. Taking up where "Sex, Thugs and Rock & Roll and Hardcore Hardboiled" left off, this collection features nineteen outstanding stories from Thuglit.com "e-zine" and five new, original offerings from masters of suspense, plus an introduction from "New York Times" bestselling author Maz Allan. From scheming strippers to badass bikers, from avenging street angels to hellacious hit men, "Blood, Guts, and Whiskey" combines the hottest writers and the coolest themes in a collection that's everything a noir fan could want. From Publishers Weekly Twenty-four gritty, violent stories of the mean streets slug their way through a third volume mostly culled from the Web zine Thuglit (after Hardcore Hardboiled and Sex, Thugs, and Rock & Roll ). Max Allan Collins's concise yet wide-ranging introduction traces the tough guy school of short crime fiction from Hammett writing in the pulp Black Mask up to the current generation riffing off the films of Tarantino. Highlights include the Derringer Award–winning The Cost of Doing Business by Mike Penncavage, and a fistful of tales appearing for the first time anywhere from the likes of upcoming noir stars such as Dave Zeltserman (Bad Move) and Tom Piccirilli (The Return of Inspiration). For dedicated fans of the genre, this anthology is worth the money just for Death of a Rat, a prison yarn found in the files of the late Edward Bunker (aka Mr. Blue in Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs ), iconic author of No Beast So Fierce . These stories are as bleak and exciting as a cold rainstorm. (June) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. She had an ass like a heart turned upside down and cut in half—and that's what we call foreshadowing, friend. Gruesome and glam, vicious and violent, this collection of the best new neo-noir fiction will hit you like a biker boot to the skull. Unleashed from the net's most hardcore award-winning site, these down, dirty, and deeply depraved tales don't just cut the edge . . . they pour gasoline on it and toss it in a meth lab full of C-4 . . . "Just because I killed my best friend with my bare hands doesn't make me all that bad. . . Christ, I loved the guy like a brother." Throw down a shot with the last word in badass—a scheming stripper playing one fool too far; the rage-haunted lesbian who's the last word in nightmare revenge; a mercenary sheriff doomed by ruthless payback; avenging street angels unleashing holy hell —and just try and stagger away intact. . . "This country's got a motto. It's pura vida, and it means when life gets you down, put your feet up, sister. But I lift my legs for no man." So settle back with your favorite rot-gut, keep your brass knuckles handy, and hang where the odds are never good, darkness is a permanent state of mind, and the house always takes all . . . Blood, Guts, And Whiskey "Lean, mean stories. . .today's brightest writers provide some of the darkest tales you've ever read." –Max Allan Collins Big Daddy Thug/Todd Robinson's writing has appeared in Plots With Guns, Danger City, Demolition, Out Of The Gutter, Pulp Pusher, Crimespree and Writers Digest's The Year's Best Writing 2003. He was nominated for a 2006 Derringer Award from the Short Mystery Fiction Society, and is the creator and chief editor of Thuglit.com. The stories he's edited for Thuglit.com have been nominated for several awards, including The Derringer and The Million Writer's Award, and been have been selected for The Best American Mystery Stories and Best Noir 2006. He lives and works in New York with his wife (Lady Detroit), a ferret named Matilda, and three freakin' cats.

"She had an ass like a heart turned upside down and cut in half-and that's what we call foreshadowing, friend."

Gruesome and glam, vicious and violent, this collection of the best new neo-noir fiction will hit you like a biker boot to the skull. Unleashed from the net's most hardcore award-winning site, these down, dirty, and deeply depraved tales don't just cut the edge ... they pour gasoline on it and toss it in a meth lab full of C-4 ...

"Just because I killed my best friend with my bare hands doesn't make me all that bad... Christ, I loved the guy like a brother."

Throw down a shot with the last word in badass-a scheming stripper playing one fool too far; the rage-haunted lesbian who's the last word in nightmare revenge; a mercenary sheriff doomed by ruthless payback; avenging street angels unleashing holy hell -and just try and stagger away intact...

"This country's got a motto. It's pura vida, and it means when life gets you down, put your feet up, sister. But I lift my legs for no man."

So settle back with your favorite rot-gut, keep your brass knuckles handy, and hang where the odds are never good, darkness is a permanent state of mind, and the house always takes all ...

Blood, Guts, And Whiskey

"Lean, mean stories...today's brightest writers provide some of the darkest tales you've ever read." -Max Allan Collins

Introduction / -- Max Allan Collins -- A message from Big Daddy Thug -- Todd Robinson Red hair and black leather -- Jordan Harper -- The return of inspiration -- Tom Piccirilli Cut -- John Kenyon Pick's place -- Colin O'Sullivan These two guys... -- Craig McDonald Community property -- Pearce Hansen News about yourself -- Scott Wolven Trauma Dyke -- Derek Nikitas 'Demption Road -- Justin Porter Mr. Universe -- Glenn Gray Green gables -- Dana King Death of a rat -- Eddie Bunker -- The last dance -- Stuart Neville -- The cost of doing business -- Michael Penncavage Son of so many tears -- Hilary Davidson Faith-based initiative -- Kieran Shea Mahogany and monogamy -- Jedidiah Ayres Who do I have to kill to get a little respect up in here? -- Brian Murphy Bad move -- Dave Zeltserman You're gonna get yours -- Stephen Allan Fool in search of a country song -- Andy Turner Mercy first, first mercy -- David Harrison Overclocked -- Lawrence Clayton Care of the circumcised penis -- Sean Doolittle.-- About the authors.-- Raise your glasses...