1984. I love stories set in New York City. Especially the 80’s. Growing up in Ohio, I only knew it from the shows and movies that portrayed it as a mix between the ultra-fancy rich playground and the ultra-poor urban cataclysmal wasteland. And Ghostbusters of course. At the beginning of the book, I got a little thrown off. Each chapter was the beginning of a new narrative. We got a news lady and a cop, a slasher serial killer, a hot dog vendor, a homeless guy, a strip club barker, an exterminator, some street toughs, train drivers… all with chapters from their perspectives. Let me tell you, I don’t have the best memory for stuff like this. Will there be a test? Do the hot dog vendor’s feelings matter in the grand scheme of things? Let’s find out.
Strange things are happening down in the subway. A train disappeared. Tiny men running about. Blobs with teeth. A dinosaur? Skeleton reptilian birds picking at the entrails of a somewhat human creature chained to a wall on a subway platform with no entrance. Mists that take you into a gateway to another dimension. An army of albino dwarves in robes that can cast magic. You know, all the obvious shit.
There are some definite nods to Lovecraft. The Necronomicon and Cthulhu are both mentioned. Not to say that this is Lovecraftian at all. It’s all very casual.
I bet when Ghostbusters came out the same year this author was so bummed. The beginning and the middle feels a lot like Ghostbusters with the slow rise of more and more creepy things coming into our world. The New York City backdrop and even the ending is somewhat similar. Obviously, no Stay Puft but similar in feel.
Of all the “Paperbacks From Hell” that I’ve read, I mean the one’s pictured in the book, this has so far been my favorite. It had the perfect amount of B factor. The perfect amount of insane, off the wall ideas and the writing and mystery were all on point. Great shit. Cover art by: Lisa Falkenstern.
Pocket Horror- 1984.
Review by Nick Anderson. Instagram:@next_stop_willoughy
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