Jeremy C. Shipp has always been one of my favorite authors. I have read everything he has published and had the honor of attending one of his writing workshops. His imagination and story telling prowess is unmatched. When I saw the Facebook notification that "In The Fishbowl, We Bleed" was released, I snagged it right away. "...Fishbowl..." is a collection of nine short stories that show Shipp at the top of his game. every story is brilliant and terrifying. Shipp has found new ways to scare me that I didn't know were possible. I really couldn't pick a favorite out of this collection as each one is as good as the last. Here's a brief, spoiler free, synopsis of each story.
The Tubes - In a futuristic society the naked bodies of people proclaimed enemies of the state flow through transparent tubes as a reminder of what will happen to them if the do not obey the law.
Nubs - a man with a sinister doll collection has neglected his wife for so long that she takes drastic steps to become part of his life again.
Shade - an adulterous man is stalked by a mysterious shadow creature that can materialize anywhere at any time.
The Stills - Humans are catheterized as used as displays in the homes of the ultra-wealthy. At a dinner party, something goes very wrong and the results are terrifying and bloody.
Balloon Boy - I love Jeremy Shipp's Attic Clowns. In this take a boy seeks revenge on the bully who killed his tortoise with the help of an undead clown.
The Worm Men - In a world infested by mysterious worms, a woman hears the sins of people and in exchange receives free pest control. The surprise ending in this story is brilliant.
Feet – To call this tale disturbing is an understatement. It involves a stolen foot and two beings, Jester Blue and Jester Red, who are painted like court jester and kept in an attic. The story is told from the perspective of Jester Blue.
Masks – This story continues the storyline from “Feet” but is told from the perspective of Jester Red and is even more terrifying. It’s like a fever dream that never stops.
Crawl – In the final story, a young woman in need of money to care for her brother is hired to behave human hamster for a depraved wealthy man.
Many themes repeat themselves through Shipp’s stories. He writes about the repression of the poor by the mega wealthy, about women who are neglected, and about innocent children forced to endure bullying and abuse. We are all just creatures in a fishbowl, controlled by cruel masters and then done away with when we become boring. Each of the stories is beautiful in its own disturbing way, and Jeremy C. Shipp has never been better.
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