Thursday, May 6, 2010

Carlton Mellick III

Today, kids, we're going to talk about the author who has changed my whole way of thinking in terms of how to write a story.

Carlton Mellick III is at the forefront of the Bizarro Fiction movement. For years he has written stories of the weird and, in my humble opinion, he continues to improve and mature as an author. I've devoured every single one of his books over the course of little more than a year. I have yet to find one that I didn't zip right through at breakneck speed. Many of them I've already revisited because they're just that goddamned good.

Let's pause for a minute so that I may explain exactly what Bizarro Fiction is.

Bizarro is "equivalent to the cult section at the video store". It is weirdness of plot as opposed to experimental fiction which is weirdness of style. Many Bizarro tales are written in a very simplistic style but the characters and situations are very weird. One can pick up on influences from filmmakers such as David Lynch and David Cronenberg. Bizarro Fiction often takes typical characters or situations and adds many absurd (often hilarious) elements to make it weird and original.

Mr. Mellick is also a very kind, approachable fellow. Through Twitter, Facebook, and Brian Keene's Forum, I've talked to him. If only to tell him I've read and enjoyed his latest releases. He's always gracious and humble when responding to my praise. I've also talked with fellow Bizarro authors Jeremy C. Shipp (who has recommended so many great movies) and Jordan Krall (who shares my love of H.P. Lovecraft and Spaghetti Westerns). All great guys.

I can't thank author and friend Brian Keene enough for introducing me to Mellick and Bizarro Fiction. Reading Bizarro has totally changed my personal taste in literature. I've found a nice little niche where I feel I belong. As if the stories were written for me.

Here's a list of books/novellas by Carlton Mellick III:

Satan Burger
Electric Jesus Corpse
Sunset With A Beard (Collection)
Razor Wire Pubic Hair
Teeth And Tongue Landscape
The Steel Breakfast Era
The Baby Jesus Butt Plug
Fishy-Fleshed
The Menstruating Mall
Ocean Of Lard (with Kevin L. Donihe)
Punk Land
Sex And Death In Television Town
Sea Of The Patchwork Cats
The Haunted Vagina
Cancer-Cute (Avant Punk Army Exclusive Collection)
War Slut
Sausagey Santa
Ugly Heaven, Beautiful Hell (with Jeffrey Thomas)
Adolf In Wonderland
Ultra Fuckers
Cybernetrix
The Egg Man
Apeshit
The Faggiest Vampire
The Cannibals Of Candyland
Warrior Wolf Women Of The Wasteland
The Kobold Wizard's Dildo Of Enlightenment +2
Zombies And Shit
Crab Town
The Morbidly Obese Ninja
Fantastic Orgy
Barbarian Beast Bitches Of The Badlands
I Knocked Up Satan's Daughter

Other notable Bizarro authors (in no particular order):

Gina Rinalli
Andre Duza
Jeremy C. Shipp
Jeff Burk
Jordan Krall
Cameron Pierce
Adam Pepper
Kevin L. Donihe
Anderson Prunty
John Edward Lawson
D. Harlan Wilson
Mykle Hansen
Andrew Goldfarb
Garrett Cook

I can't stress enough; if you're looking for something different, pick up some Carlton Mellick III books. If you like it, pick up some more. By this point you should be hooked. Then you can delve into some of these other fantastic authors I've listed above.

5 comments:

  1. Well if you think this highly of this fellow's work, I guess I'll have to pick some up!

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  2. Mike, I like Mr. Mellick III's writing as well. Although I have not read as much of his stuff as you have. Bizarro is a lot of fun and gives a reader a nice change of pace from "Normal" fiction. Now, I am going to go and re-read "Sausagy Santa" and enjoy the antics of Decapitron again.

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  3. Decapitron is one of the greatest characters ever created! I re-read Sausagey Santa this past Christmas and intend to make it an annual event.

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  4. Hey thanks for the input. I've heard of Carlton Mellick, but was on the fence about getting one of his books. I think I'll try it now, I'll probably start with "Adolf in Wonderland". I used to like watching the WW2 documentaries, so it would be fun to see a nazi in a funny position.

    you took part in the "The Tie that Binds" DVD? I thought I saw you there in part of the production. I am a big Brian Keene fan myself, found your blog here through the Keenedom

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  5. Your welcome B-rad! His books are not for everyone but I love them. Yeah, I did help out with the production of The Ties That Bind. I was little more than a production assistant for the project but it was a blast nonetheless. I'm also a member of Drunken Tentacle Productions which also includes Keene, Jeff Heimbuch (director of "Ties"), Mike Lombardo (Reel Splatter Productions), Matt Blazi, and Dave Thomas.

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