Scan barcode
loogenhausen's review
4.0
Just as much a memoir as a short story collection, Mike Lombardo's first published book is his personality down to a "T" and all splayed out in front of you for 200 pages. Partake in his soul, won't you?
Some of the stories in here are already on my all-time favorites list and I can't wait to see what he publishes next.
Let's go down the list, shall we?
Dead Format
What a clever CLEVER story. So well-written and with the perfect ending. If it wasn't for Weekend at Escobar's, this would be my favorite story in the bunch. If you love VHS tapes, the 80s and 90s, and mall food court Chinese, tuck in for a good one! The ending literally made me audibly gasp.
I'm Dreaming of a White Doomsday
Such a great mood piece. I hate to say it, I love the movie more. That being said, this short is nothing ...short... of sad, disturbing, nostalgic, and unabashedly Mike Lombardo.
Appetites
You heard of The House That Dripped Blood? Well what about The House That... Well, you know I can't spoil that. Lombardo goes all out with the sex and gore in this one. Wished it was a bit longer and had a punchier ending, though.
The World in the Window
I needed to go lie down and take a nap after this one. Very similar to watching a film fest programmed by Samantha Kolesnik.
No Comment
A fun shortie starring Brian Keene. It's over before it begins, but you can tell Lombardo had a blast writing it.
Please Don't Tap on the Glass
This one hit hard and I appreciated Lombardo's frankness and candor here in what is clearly an autobiographical tale. You won't look at fish in a hospital fish tank the same ever again. Or at all?
Hard Times at the Opium Den
Fun and playful POV yarn where Breaking Bad meets Cronenberg. Made me smile but I was looking for more here.
Just Like the Real Thing
Gross and seedy, yet heartfelt. Mike in a nutshell. Ends a bit abruptly, but I was still into it.
Home Again
Nice twist ending. Would have liked a bit more. Vintage Lombardo wistfulness and longing.
Weekend at Escobar's
This was my favorite of the collection, just edging out Dead Format and Playplace. This is my kind of violence. A great story with a relatable protagonist thrust into an insane situation but also with a tragic backstory. I was smiling the entire time this unfolded in front of me. I saw it as a movie involuntarily. It's already at novelette length pretty much. I'd love to see more of this kind of storytelling from Lombardo. Think Weekend at Bernie's crossed with Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia. Hell yes.
Playplace
The zombie apocalypse seen through a porthole in a McDonald's playplace. This was basically a short novella. Could easily be a movie, just like Weekend at Escobar's. Great setting and characters. A signature Lombardo ending. Kind of like Dance of the Dead (underrated flick) mixed with Cooties and the OG Dawn of the Dead. I wouldn't be upset if Lombardo turned this into a standalone release some day.
There you have it! Dead Format, Weekend at Escobar's, and Playplace were tops for me, with I'm Dreaming of a White Doomsday and Please Don't Tap on the Glass not too far behind. I had so much fun reading this eclectic collection of devastating (and wickedly funny) slivers of Mike's heart and soul. If you want to get to know the man, this is a great place to start.
Some of the stories in here are already on my all-time favorites list and I can't wait to see what he publishes next.
Let's go down the list, shall we?
Dead Format
What a clever CLEVER story. So well-written and with the perfect ending. If it wasn't for Weekend at Escobar's, this would be my favorite story in the bunch. If you love VHS tapes, the 80s and 90s, and mall food court Chinese, tuck in for a good one! The ending literally made me audibly gasp.
I'm Dreaming of a White Doomsday
Such a great mood piece. I hate to say it, I love the movie more. That being said, this short is nothing ...short... of sad, disturbing, nostalgic, and unabashedly Mike Lombardo.
Appetites
You heard of The House That Dripped Blood? Well what about The House That... Well, you know I can't spoil that. Lombardo goes all out with the sex and gore in this one. Wished it was a bit longer and had a punchier ending, though.
The World in the Window
I needed to go lie down and take a nap after this one. Very similar to watching a film fest programmed by Samantha Kolesnik.
No Comment
A fun shortie starring Brian Keene. It's over before it begins, but you can tell Lombardo had a blast writing it.
Please Don't Tap on the Glass
This one hit hard and I appreciated Lombardo's frankness and candor here in what is clearly an autobiographical tale. You won't look at fish in a hospital fish tank the same ever again. Or at all?
Hard Times at the Opium Den
Fun and playful POV yarn where Breaking Bad meets Cronenberg. Made me smile but I was looking for more here.
Just Like the Real Thing
Gross and seedy, yet heartfelt. Mike in a nutshell. Ends a bit abruptly, but I was still into it.
Home Again
Nice twist ending. Would have liked a bit more. Vintage Lombardo wistfulness and longing.
Weekend at Escobar's
This was my favorite of the collection, just edging out Dead Format and Playplace. This is my kind of violence. A great story with a relatable protagonist thrust into an insane situation but also with a tragic backstory. I was smiling the entire time this unfolded in front of me. I saw it as a movie involuntarily. It's already at novelette length pretty much. I'd love to see more of this kind of storytelling from Lombardo. Think Weekend at Bernie's crossed with Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia. Hell yes.
Playplace
The zombie apocalypse seen through a porthole in a McDonald's playplace. This was basically a short novella. Could easily be a movie, just like Weekend at Escobar's. Great setting and characters. A signature Lombardo ending. Kind of like Dance of the Dead (underrated flick) mixed with Cooties and the OG Dawn of the Dead. I wouldn't be upset if Lombardo turned this into a standalone release some day.
There you have it! Dead Format, Weekend at Escobar's, and Playplace were tops for me, with I'm Dreaming of a White Doomsday and Please Don't Tap on the Glass not too far behind. I had so much fun reading this eclectic collection of devastating (and wickedly funny) slivers of Mike's heart and soul. If you want to get to know the man, this is a great place to start.
More...