Die Dog or Eat the Hatchet is amazing
DIE DOG OR EAT THE HATCHET, published by Comet Press, is a collection of three dark and dirty novellas that are virtually impossible to classify using any currently existing genre definition. While falling under the broader umbrella of neo-noir, it’s a splatterpunk, creature horror, redneck noir mashup unlike anything I’ve read before. Think Tobe Hooper on LSD with a liquored up Lansdale in the driver’s seat and you’ll begin to vaguely understand what I mean.
Howe is one of those rare authors whose work is so freaky good, he’s difficult to write about. Hard to imagine what I could say that would really do him justice. DIE DOG OR EAT THE HATCHET is genre(?) fiction bordering on perfection, permeated with gallows humor, brutal–often disturbing–violence, and a triple helping of giddy horror. His characters are wonderfully flawed individuals who don’t always beat the odds, and his villains are some of the most terrifying I’ve seen in a long time. The stories are at times hilarious, often horrific, and always good fun that, like a wild roller coaster ride, ends too soon. Howe is a master storyteller with a natural, engaging voice and a vivid, unique imagination that is rivaled by few.
Adam Cesare said DIE DOG OR EAT THE HATCHET is one of the best books of the year. I emphatically agree. I loved this book and I suspect I will read it again soon. Adam Howe is a new name on my favorite author list and he’s pretty damn high up on it. If you haven’t read his work yet, you should fix that ASAP.
