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antkneeomonster's review against another edition
4.0
Very solid effort from Alan Baxter (my first book of his, but defo not the last). Sort of a series of linked stories set in the same creepy coastal Australian town. If you've ever spent time in one of these joints, you'll appreciate Baxter's vivid sense of place and mood. Part Lovecraft/cosmic horror, part trashy 80s movie vibe, this is really compelling stuff and I'm delighted there's a second book in the series.
rleigh78's review against another edition
5.0
Be very cautious when heading towards Gulpepper, because once you get there you may not make it out. The Gulp is an interesting place, to say the least. Once you find your way in, you might not even want to leave. You may not believe the things people are telling you about Alan Baxter’s odd little Lovecraftian waterside town; after all, how strange could it truly be?
Maybe you’re a trucker finishing up your last few days of training with a tired colleague on the cusp of retirement, and you get into an accident on your new route that requires an overnight stay. Just mind your business, buddy. Keep to yourself and don’t worry what’s going on around you. Or perhaps you’re a pair of teenage siblings finding yourselves suddenly orphaned and on your own. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Backpacking tourists in search of adventure and fun? Party like rock stars, eat well, and do some shots. If you’ve found a less-than-legal way to make a little cash, it might be wise to focus on the job at hand and keep your wits about you. More into pulling a few bream out of the water at your favorite tranquil fishing spot? There’s good fishing there in the Gulp’s cosmic waters.
Baxter’s stories are all connected, and they’re all part of what makes the Gulp so unusual. Go in as blind as possible, and be prepared to revisit once you notice recurring characters. The first story, “Out on a Rim,” sets the tone nicely and is the perfect introduction to Gulpepper (I’m nowhere near Australia but there’s a town in my state called Culpepper, and I was delighted at first to be able to associate. That elation quickly turned to horror.) There are patterns and characters that will return, so you’ll probably come back to this one to re-register what you vaguely recall when you’re reading the later stories.
I cannot decide which story is my favorite, but it’s either “The Band Plays On” or “48 To Go.” The last story is “Rock Fisher,” and though it’s horrific, Baxter imbues a lot of love and happiness throughout the grotesque imagery. It’s got quite a bit of hope, almost. Yes there is dread, and a lot of it...but it’s hopeful and almost optimistic.
Everything ties together – for the most part – in “Rock Fisher,” but that knot isn’t secured and we’re left on a bit of a cliffhanger. This is honestly for the best because although these stories do have a definite stopping point for the characters involved, there’s a big resolution being hinted at and they desperately need to continue. The beauty is that these stories are part of a larger story that could be wrapped up with one more book, or they could reach untold heights and then be settled in a third book. I just want more stories, because I’m invested now. Now I’m in the Gulp.
I may be able to ignore that little light leading into the next room.
Maybe I can stay away from the mushrooms.
But when that band starts playing and the tray of shots makes its rounds, I might not be able to say no for much longer.
n0rmann's review against another edition
4.0
I've always wanted to vacation to Australia. But, after reading Alan Baxter's books, I'm going to rethink that. This was an excellent collection of connected short stories all about a town known as "The Gulp," which may be the strangest place in the world!
bobmetal's review
5.0
One of the best books I've read this year, 5 creepy interlinked tales set in the remote Australian town of Gulpepper, or The Gulp as its known to the locals. I loved every single story and the sense of oddness that pervades the book.
Out on a Rim - A trainee truck driver is forced to spend the night in The Gulp, this goes to some very dark and violent places. 5/5
Mother in Bloom - Zack and Maddy are trying to cover up the death of their mother, but there's something growing where her body lies. A nice little body horror tale, there's a lot here that resurfaces throughout the rest of the stories. 5/5
The Band Plays On - Partying with a rock and roll band takes a very heavy toll. I loved and hated this story, hated it because it packs such an emotional punch, I could see the end coming and I didn't want it 5/5
48 to Go - Trying to recover the money lost in a drug deal leads to death, magic and Guinea Pigs. There's some pretty nasty stuff going on here, but there's a nice level of humour to Dace's attempts to get the money to pay back his boss. 5/5
Rock Fisher - A fisherman searching for his place in the world catches something that can answer his prayers, with extreme body horror. Loved it, its is probably the most horrific of the stories, that ending is something else. It also pays of a lot that was setup in the previous four stories
Amazing
Out on a Rim - A trainee truck driver is forced to spend the night in The Gulp, this goes to some very dark and violent places. 5/5
Mother in Bloom - Zack and Maddy are trying to cover up the death of their mother, but there's something growing where her body lies. A nice little body horror tale, there's a lot here that resurfaces throughout the rest of the stories. 5/5
The Band Plays On - Partying with a rock and roll band takes a very heavy toll. I loved and hated this story, hated it because it packs such an emotional punch, I could see the end coming and I didn't want it 5/5
48 to Go - Trying to recover the money lost in a drug deal leads to death, magic and Guinea Pigs. There's some pretty nasty stuff going on here, but there's a nice level of humour to Dace's attempts to get the money to pay back his boss. 5/5
Rock Fisher - A fisherman searching for his place in the world catches something that can answer his prayers, with extreme body horror. Loved it, its is probably the most horrific of the stories, that ending is something else. It also pays of a lot that was setup in the previous four stories
Amazing
maxines_obsessions's review against another edition
5.0
Alan Baxter has a way with words. He builds up the tension, layer by layer, until it has you on the edge of your seat, biting your nails. In The Gulp, he has merged all the typical small town characteristics you see in Australia, added a decent dose of his twisted yet incredibly realistic characters, thrown in a very large dash of the supernatural and happily flings shocking gore onto the page throughout.¶яAdd to that the format, novellas that as a whole tell a bigger story, and Baxter brings you something incredible. A book that leaves you satisfied but also hoping he is currently writing the next book.¶я
I'm not really a horror reader, it tends to freak me out, but there is something about the way Baxter creates these amazing, realistic characters that drags me in. I find I connect with them, their hopes and dreams, and then he just puts them in some really fucked up situations.¶я
There is gore and violence, a lot of gore, but while some things may of made me gag and cringe, I don't think it was like slasher gore which is way to much for me. The violence doesn't pull any punches, no one is safe. It's abrupt, it's gruesome and it sometimes seems like it comes out of nowhere.¶я I liked that the horror vibes also came from creating eerie characters and situations, so you never really knew what you were going to get.¶я
The novella format was awesome. Each story built the Gulp and by the end you have this fantastic overview of just what the Gulp is like, who inhabits the town and a sense of what's coming. From the first story I was trying to work out the links and how it was going to end up and I was surprised. Characters that were mentioned briefly in the first story would become fully fleshed out in another story yet they were never a main character, which was cool. There were easter eggs throughout and it was cool when you finally had the lightbulb moment and got the link.¶я
Like any book with a collection of novellas within you will end up having favourites, but what I loved about this is that all the stories were great, there was zero filler. My personal favourites were Mother In Bloom, I found the family dynamic and the kids relationship completely captivating. And 48 to Go, which had me glued to the page, I think it was the most violent of all the stories, but I couldn't look away. In both of these stories the characters just end up deeper and deeper in the shit and the lengths they have to go to is bloody insane. But it also brings up the question of how far is to far? Once you have committed one crime, does it make the next easier? What exactly would you be willing to do to survive?¶я
I highly recommend this fantastic, very Australian story. The Australian slang is a masterpiece in itself, the characters are dynamic and the overall story arc will have you turning the pages, possibly smashing through it in one sitting. Like always Baxter doesn't pull any punches, he takes the story exactly were it needs to go.¶я
I'm not really a horror reader, it tends to freak me out, but there is something about the way Baxter creates these amazing, realistic characters that drags me in. I find I connect with them, their hopes and dreams, and then he just puts them in some really fucked up situations.¶я
There is gore and violence, a lot of gore, but while some things may of made me gag and cringe, I don't think it was like slasher gore which is way to much for me. The violence doesn't pull any punches, no one is safe. It's abrupt, it's gruesome and it sometimes seems like it comes out of nowhere.¶я I liked that the horror vibes also came from creating eerie characters and situations, so you never really knew what you were going to get.¶я
The novella format was awesome. Each story built the Gulp and by the end you have this fantastic overview of just what the Gulp is like, who inhabits the town and a sense of what's coming. From the first story I was trying to work out the links and how it was going to end up and I was surprised. Characters that were mentioned briefly in the first story would become fully fleshed out in another story yet they were never a main character, which was cool. There were easter eggs throughout and it was cool when you finally had the lightbulb moment and got the link.¶я
Like any book with a collection of novellas within you will end up having favourites, but what I loved about this is that all the stories were great, there was zero filler. My personal favourites were Mother In Bloom, I found the family dynamic and the kids relationship completely captivating. And 48 to Go, which had me glued to the page, I think it was the most violent of all the stories, but I couldn't look away. In both of these stories the characters just end up deeper and deeper in the shit and the lengths they have to go to is bloody insane. But it also brings up the question of how far is to far? Once you have committed one crime, does it make the next easier? What exactly would you be willing to do to survive?¶я
I highly recommend this fantastic, very Australian story. The Australian slang is a masterpiece in itself, the characters are dynamic and the overall story arc will have you turning the pages, possibly smashing through it in one sitting. Like always Baxter doesn't pull any punches, he takes the story exactly were it needs to go.¶я
thomaswjoyce's review against another edition
5.0
Baxter makes a great choice with his protagonist for opening story ‘Out on a Rim’. By using the point of view of an outsider visiting The Gulp in rookie delivery driver Richard Blake, the reader is introduced to the weirdness of the town, without the weight of prior knowledge to get in the way. Just like Rich, we see The Gulp’s slight idiosyncrasies and slightly odd behaviour of the locals and, although unsettled, we can’t say with any certainty that the causes are paranormal or horrific in nature. But, of course, this is a horror book. Route-learning with experienced driver George, Rich ignores the warnings about The Gulp when an unfortunate accident by George strands them in the small coastal town overnight. While the seasoned driver refuses to even leave the cab when the sun begins to drop, the rookie heads into town to experience the hospitality. Unfortunately for him, he finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time and is soon introduced to criminal kingpin Carter. The suspense felt by Rich—and, subsequently, the reader—is reminiscent of Baxter’s books featuring Eli Carver, but the main take-away from the story is the strangeness of the town. Whether it is something consciously or subconsciously perceived by Rich, or something hinted at in the brief glimpse of the town and its inhabitants, the weirdness makes the skin crawl and is suggestive of a deep-rooted horror that yearns to be explored.
That exploration continues in ‘Mother in Bloom’, taking a more personal tone in the form of local teenage siblings Maddy and Zack. It quickly becomes clear that their mother has died, leaving them to fend for themselves. The thing is, they aren’t exactly grief-stricken by their situation as we learn that their mother was domineering and vindictive. And she is still in the house. Sick for quite a while and bedridden for months, she refused medical attention, relying on sixteen-year-old Zack to care for her while Maddy worked and refused to see her. Now the siblings must figure out how to maintain their living arrangements for six months, until Maddy turns eighteen and can legally care for Zack, without any outsiders enquiring about their reclusive mother. But this is only the beginning of their problems, as their deceased mother’s body exhibits strange alterations. What follows is a great examination of a strained relationship between a loving brother and sister, as Zack struggles to deal with the guilt of their mother’s death and longs to make it right, leading to some gruesome choices. It also perfectly displays the effect that living and growing up in such a strange and haunted environment as The Gulp can have on a sensitive person. Also, we begin to glimpse a larger mystery that seems to lie at the heart of all that is wrong with the town. A great mix of horror and drama that makes for an excellent standalone story, but also further whets the appetite for more details about the town.
‘The Band Plays On’ duly delivers with more intriguing hints at the bigger picture of what is happening to the town. This is shown through the eyes of travelling Irish backpacker Patrick. He and partner Ciara have met fellow travellers Torsten and Simone, siblings from Germany, and they are all journeying together in a camper van. But the opportunity to stay in a motel in Monkton leads them to a gig in a local bar by cult favourite Aussie band Blind Eye Moon. Immediately swept up in the music and the euphoric reaction from their cult following, the travellers accept an invitation from the band to continue the party at their luxurious manor. In nearby Gulpepper. What begins as a good time soon takes a more sinister turn as Patrick experiences vivid dreams about the history of the town and the role played by the members of the band. Patrick’s desperation to escape and fight the urge to fall under the spell of their charming hosts is palpable, and leads to some startling revelations about the town. The horror of this tale is more cosmic in tone, hinting at the greater arc and secrets buried in the town’s history. The descriptions of the more sinister elements of this story are great, as is the development of Patrick’s character.
’48 To Go’ begins with Dace, running an errand for his boss, Carter, and trying to hook up with Sasha at the same time. Everything is going great, until two armed robbers hold him up and he must return to his boss with his tail between his legs. Carter gives Dace forty-eight hours to reimburse him for the lost merchandise, hence the title. We proceed to follow the inexperienced criminal as he spends the next two days descending into a hellish nightmare scenario. The small-town setting offers little opportunity for him to come up with such a large sum of money in so short a period, but he finds out about an old couple who have little faith in banks and horrifying secrets to keep. Unfortunately for Dace, he’ll find himself intimately acquainted with all of them before his time is up. What begins as a weird and almost funny series of events (the hapless Dace does offer some much-needed light-hearted relief) grows increasingly disturbing and stomach-churning as the story progresses. Baxter’s ability to seemingly blend sub-genres with little effort makes for a gripping horror story full of nightmarish elements. The connection to the greater story arc of the town and the larger horror plaguing the dreams of the inhabitants seems tentative at first, until an action-packed finale leads to a stunning revelation that forces Dace’s actions front and centre of the bigger picture. The transformation of his character from meek delivery boy in the beginning to his final stature through the gauntlet Baxter made him run is excellent, and well-earned.
In final story ‘Rock Fisher’, local fisherman Troy prides himself on knowing the best places from which to fish to get the best catch in The Gulp. But he doesn’t reckon on catching something not fishy, utterly mesmerising and utterly out of this world. He takes it home gently places it in his aquarium, much to the amusing disapproval of the other inhabitants. But he feels it calling to him and, despite his own strained relationship with his own parents and siblings, and the fact that he is newly single, he feels a paternal pull to the item, longing to nurture it. And the longer he spends looking at it, the more time seems to slip away. Then events really take a turn for the bizarre. Baxter weaves elements of body horror and despair to deliver a truly terrifying conclusion to the story, and the book in general, as characters from previous chapters are mentioned reacting to the horrific events unfolding thanks to Troy’s actions. It certainly left this reader with a longing to hear more about the Gulp, what happens next and, perhaps, what happened before.
Five novellas that weave in and out of each other, with recurring characters and one immensely creepy setting. Opening with the story told from the point of view of the outsider is a great way to introduce us to the town, and the finale of the closing story gives an overall fitting conclusion to the book as a whole, but the stories in between could be read in any order. Each story has a unique narrative, some more bizarre than others, some more gruesome. And every story evokes a chilling sense of dread in the reader, which is credit to Baxter’s knack for a creepy tale and his wonderful storytelling ability. Stories of strange little communities often reflect on the ugliness of the place, drawing comparisons between the hideous scenery and equally hideous people. When we think of beautiful sunshine and golden beaches and the vast surrounding greenery of trees, we often consider it heavenly and calming. We let our guard down. Baxter has taken that sense of calm and used it against the reader, to great effect. The Gulp has a habit of swallowing people. It feels like Baxter has crafted the literary equivalent of a Venus flytrap and, by the time we feel the descent towards our own doom, the trap is already closing, and we are perfectly poised for the next volume of tales from The Gulp.
That exploration continues in ‘Mother in Bloom’, taking a more personal tone in the form of local teenage siblings Maddy and Zack. It quickly becomes clear that their mother has died, leaving them to fend for themselves. The thing is, they aren’t exactly grief-stricken by their situation as we learn that their mother was domineering and vindictive. And she is still in the house. Sick for quite a while and bedridden for months, she refused medical attention, relying on sixteen-year-old Zack to care for her while Maddy worked and refused to see her. Now the siblings must figure out how to maintain their living arrangements for six months, until Maddy turns eighteen and can legally care for Zack, without any outsiders enquiring about their reclusive mother. But this is only the beginning of their problems, as their deceased mother’s body exhibits strange alterations. What follows is a great examination of a strained relationship between a loving brother and sister, as Zack struggles to deal with the guilt of their mother’s death and longs to make it right, leading to some gruesome choices. It also perfectly displays the effect that living and growing up in such a strange and haunted environment as The Gulp can have on a sensitive person. Also, we begin to glimpse a larger mystery that seems to lie at the heart of all that is wrong with the town. A great mix of horror and drama that makes for an excellent standalone story, but also further whets the appetite for more details about the town.
‘The Band Plays On’ duly delivers with more intriguing hints at the bigger picture of what is happening to the town. This is shown through the eyes of travelling Irish backpacker Patrick. He and partner Ciara have met fellow travellers Torsten and Simone, siblings from Germany, and they are all journeying together in a camper van. But the opportunity to stay in a motel in Monkton leads them to a gig in a local bar by cult favourite Aussie band Blind Eye Moon. Immediately swept up in the music and the euphoric reaction from their cult following, the travellers accept an invitation from the band to continue the party at their luxurious manor. In nearby Gulpepper. What begins as a good time soon takes a more sinister turn as Patrick experiences vivid dreams about the history of the town and the role played by the members of the band. Patrick’s desperation to escape and fight the urge to fall under the spell of their charming hosts is palpable, and leads to some startling revelations about the town. The horror of this tale is more cosmic in tone, hinting at the greater arc and secrets buried in the town’s history. The descriptions of the more sinister elements of this story are great, as is the development of Patrick’s character.
’48 To Go’ begins with Dace, running an errand for his boss, Carter, and trying to hook up with Sasha at the same time. Everything is going great, until two armed robbers hold him up and he must return to his boss with his tail between his legs. Carter gives Dace forty-eight hours to reimburse him for the lost merchandise, hence the title. We proceed to follow the inexperienced criminal as he spends the next two days descending into a hellish nightmare scenario. The small-town setting offers little opportunity for him to come up with such a large sum of money in so short a period, but he finds out about an old couple who have little faith in banks and horrifying secrets to keep. Unfortunately for Dace, he’ll find himself intimately acquainted with all of them before his time is up. What begins as a weird and almost funny series of events (the hapless Dace does offer some much-needed light-hearted relief) grows increasingly disturbing and stomach-churning as the story progresses. Baxter’s ability to seemingly blend sub-genres with little effort makes for a gripping horror story full of nightmarish elements. The connection to the greater story arc of the town and the larger horror plaguing the dreams of the inhabitants seems tentative at first, until an action-packed finale leads to a stunning revelation that forces Dace’s actions front and centre of the bigger picture. The transformation of his character from meek delivery boy in the beginning to his final stature through the gauntlet Baxter made him run is excellent, and well-earned.
In final story ‘Rock Fisher’, local fisherman Troy prides himself on knowing the best places from which to fish to get the best catch in The Gulp. But he doesn’t reckon on catching something not fishy, utterly mesmerising and utterly out of this world. He takes it home gently places it in his aquarium, much to the amusing disapproval of the other inhabitants. But he feels it calling to him and, despite his own strained relationship with his own parents and siblings, and the fact that he is newly single, he feels a paternal pull to the item, longing to nurture it. And the longer he spends looking at it, the more time seems to slip away. Then events really take a turn for the bizarre. Baxter weaves elements of body horror and despair to deliver a truly terrifying conclusion to the story, and the book in general, as characters from previous chapters are mentioned reacting to the horrific events unfolding thanks to Troy’s actions. It certainly left this reader with a longing to hear more about the Gulp, what happens next and, perhaps, what happened before.
Five novellas that weave in and out of each other, with recurring characters and one immensely creepy setting. Opening with the story told from the point of view of the outsider is a great way to introduce us to the town, and the finale of the closing story gives an overall fitting conclusion to the book as a whole, but the stories in between could be read in any order. Each story has a unique narrative, some more bizarre than others, some more gruesome. And every story evokes a chilling sense of dread in the reader, which is credit to Baxter’s knack for a creepy tale and his wonderful storytelling ability. Stories of strange little communities often reflect on the ugliness of the place, drawing comparisons between the hideous scenery and equally hideous people. When we think of beautiful sunshine and golden beaches and the vast surrounding greenery of trees, we often consider it heavenly and calming. We let our guard down. Baxter has taken that sense of calm and used it against the reader, to great effect. The Gulp has a habit of swallowing people. It feels like Baxter has crafted the literary equivalent of a Venus flytrap and, by the time we feel the descent towards our own doom, the trap is already closing, and we are perfectly poised for the next volume of tales from The Gulp.
weesam_nz's review against another edition
5.0
Alan Baxter scares the bejeezus out of me in such a deliciously good way.
inciminci's review
4.0
A surprisingly good and scary read!
After "The Roo" I was still expecting something more tongue in cheek from Alan Baxter but found instead a genuinely unsettling and eerie "serious" horror collection. Gulpepper, or "The Gulp" as everybody calls it, is a Lovecraftian seaside town where things happen you don't really want to know about. If you're smart you will just ignore it on your next trip to Australia because not only do seriously bad things happen here especially to strangers, it is also setting to every imaginable horror scenario from small town evils over intelligent funghi, to extremely cool blood and life suckers and finally to a much bigger evil, something much more sinister... or maybe not?
I super enjoyed this book and do hope the author maybe expands this universe? There were so many interesting things that are touched on but not really elaborated and it's a shame that potential remains untapped.
After "The Roo" I was still expecting something more tongue in cheek from Alan Baxter but found instead a genuinely unsettling and eerie "serious" horror collection. Gulpepper, or "The Gulp" as everybody calls it, is a Lovecraftian seaside town where things happen you don't really want to know about. If you're smart you will just ignore it on your next trip to Australia because not only do seriously bad things happen here especially to strangers, it is also setting to every imaginable horror scenario from small town evils over intelligent funghi, to extremely cool blood and life suckers and finally to a much bigger evil, something much more sinister... or maybe not?
I super enjoyed this book and do hope the author maybe expands this universe? There were so many interesting things that are touched on but not really elaborated and it's a shame that potential remains untapped.
shawna_reads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"The Gulp has a habit of swallowing people. But sometimes it spits one out."
Strange things occur in the town of Gulpepper, known as the Gulp to those who live there. The residents are used to their small town, but they know it is like no other. The Gulp comprises of 5 horror stories.
I really enjoyed this collection! The fact that all of the stories were interconnected in one way or another made it that much more compelling, catching people or events from previous stories in the next one. From a trucker who doesn't believe the stories of Gulpepper to teen siblings covering up the death of their mother to a creepy rock band to a man losing a drug shipment to a weird rock fisher, all of these stories bring something macabre to the table.
I know for a fact that I would never want to take one step in this harbour town. Everyone seems to know or have heard of one another yet they all harbour their own secrets. The stories were dark, creepy and unsettling, building on this sense of dread as you move on from one tale to the next. Out of the 5 stories, The Band Plays On and 48 To Go were my favourites.
I highly recommend this collection and I look forward to spending more time in The Gulp with The Fall!
Strange things occur in the town of Gulpepper, known as the Gulp to those who live there. The residents are used to their small town, but they know it is like no other. The Gulp comprises of 5 horror stories.
I really enjoyed this collection! The fact that all of the stories were interconnected in one way or another made it that much more compelling, catching people or events from previous stories in the next one. From a trucker who doesn't believe the stories of Gulpepper to teen siblings covering up the death of their mother to a creepy rock band to a man losing a drug shipment to a weird rock fisher, all of these stories bring something macabre to the table.
I know for a fact that I would never want to take one step in this harbour town. Everyone seems to know or have heard of one another yet they all harbour their own secrets. The stories were dark, creepy and unsettling, building on this sense of dread as you move on from one tale to the next. Out of the 5 stories, The Band Plays On and 48 To Go were my favourites.
I highly recommend this collection and I look forward to spending more time in The Gulp with The Fall!
zukythebookbum's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5