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[Snell]

“Skin & Bones” Discussion Thread
The Undead: Skin & Bones gets its subtitle from my novella, “Skin & Bones.”  Here, you will find a summary of the novella, a description of the main point-of-view characters, and reviews as they accumulate.  Feel free to ask questions, make comments, and discuss the story.


Summary

Chained and hanging from a cold basement wall, Gary Walker wakes. His throat gapes. He is dead, yet he is alive. A necromancer named Bones has resurrected him, along with a graveyard of corpses. Gary killed Bones' wife, and Bones seeks revenge. His zombies are ravenous, hungry for flesh--and Gary's family lives right across the cemetery.

Characters
Gary Walker: A gravedigger, murderer, and necrophiliac, zombified for most the story. He drills a peephole into his stepdaughter Lacy’s room so that his son, Mitchell, can watch her undress.

Sy McFarlin: A high school loner attracted to Lacy, but too nervous to do anything about it. His dad is an alcoholic who killed his own wife in a car accident.

Mitchell Walker: An adolescent pervert with a dark, murderous alter ego named Walker. Mitchell lusts after Lacy’s bitchy friend, Sarah Finch, and he despises Sy so much he plans to kill him.


Reviews/Comments
"Very Laymonesque!"~Jacob, Permuted Press 

"A soul-tainting, horrifically twisted, and wickedly brilliant . . . depiction of the darker side of humanity. Reading this tale threw me back to the old 80's slasher films. It was a joy, as I remembered those late nights watching classics like Funhouse, Prom Night, and the Friday… series on the old cable TV boxes. It was a guilty pleasure then, and 'Skin & Bones' . . . had all the elements, throwing in some visions of 'blind dead' flicks and gothic horror . . . A twisted story and a great read."~Bowie Ibarra, Down the Road

[Permuted Press]

I demand that you change my quote to a rhyme:

Very Laymonesque, very grotesque, very... burlesque?

 

[Kody Boye]

Ooh, this one sounds interesting, D.L. I don't know what the others have written for the UNDEAD 2, but this one seems to stand out a bit more. Can't wait to read it!

[Stephen Blundell]

Same here, Kody!  And to make things worse is that I have to wait for it to ship to Australia (and then wait until all the customs' officers have read it), which then gets delivered by some courier (who will probably read it)....

lol!

[Snell]

Ooh, this one sounds interesting, D.L. I don't know what the others have written for the UNDEAD 2, but this one seems to stand out a bit more. Can't wait to read it!

Thanks, Kody! It's a really disgusting, depraved novella--so I'm sure everyone will love it!

[Dave Dunwoody]

Sounds like a great "flagship" story setting the tone for Undead 2 (there's probably a much better term for that) - looking forward to it!

[Creepsville]

Comments on Skin and Bones:
As the artist who did a piece for Skin and Bones, I can make a few comments on the story to help sate those frothing mouths. Don't get nervous, I won't be giving away the main course.

Skin and Bones is a story that makes you uncomfortable-in a good way. You will cringe and squirm in your seat, and not because of the thoughtful use of gore, but because of the gritty realness of its cast of characters. There are some characters that will make your skin crawl-and this is before they turn into corpses.

The sights and smells of the novel jolt out at you with the accurate precision of a master surgeon. My senses were overloaded while reading the story. It was enjoyable, but sometimes was so intense that it once again added to the akwardness of the story, as real life has crept in once again. That's what was fun about Skin and Bones. It shows life like it is: Akward and harsh. Clumsy and frustrating. Blurry, and perverse.

If you like stories that are a feast for the senses, then this one is for you. If you like very flawed and real characters, prepare to be more than satisfied.

I enjoyed the story and was cosntantly rereading it in order to obtain better perspectives of D.L. 's intentions. It seemed like a story that was unappologetic in every way-which was refreshing.

I hope you also enjoy the art I did for it once it comes out in April.

[Snell]

Thanks for stopping by, Creepsville.  For those of you who haven’t read it, S&B focuses on two basic biological drives: hunger and sex.  Writing this kind of fiction is the only thing that keeps me from becoming cynical.  I get it all out on paper, you know, and I’m fine... I’m fine... it’s going to be okay... I’m not gonna crack...

[Groundhog]

I’m fine... I’m fine... it’s going to be okay... I’m not gonna crack...

Hee hee hee—that’s right.  Crack—crack!  Suckle on the poison-milk teat of the shadow!  Ah ha ha ha!

[john_sunseri]

All I wanna know is, who keeps blaspheming the groundhog?  He's the best poster on the board, and you bastards are trying to keep him down!

Go, groundhog.  Keep up the good work.

[Snell]

All I wanna know is, who keeps blaspheming the groundhog?

I think he blasphemes himself...

[Dr. Pus]

Okey dokey. I received my copy of "The Undead: Skin and Bones" and immediately sat down to read DL's 65 page novella called, well, "Skin and Bones". Let me tell you good folks ... THIS is one of the creepiest pieces of writing I have ever had the pleasure to peruse. Creepy as in it will absolutely "creep you out". And most of the creepiness has not a damn thing to do with zombies, but it does have to do with a character the name of Mitchell/Hunter. I mean shit DL, I felt like I had to wash my hands after turning some of the pages of this novella. When some one has the talent do make you shiver while reading his work ... THAT is a very, very good thing indeed! DL has that ability and more. His descriptive chops are as sharp as a well honed buck knife.

You'll find no "plums" here, but there is an "apricot" that will make you cringe.

The story is well planned and flows very well. The charcters are explained enough to give you insight into their being. That is also a very hard thing to do in a short novella. Kudos to you DL for that ability also.

This will be the first of the "Undead: Skin and Bones" stories to be reviewed on "Library of the Living Dead". You just know it will be a glowing review, creepiness included at no extra charge.



Send me my wooden nickel you cheap bastage!

Dr. Pus

[Snell]

Doc, thanks!  I originally planned for S&B to be a novel, but I sorta ran out of story. I realized the book was climaxing and no boring thoughts of the DMV would stop it

I forgot all about the apricot--what's with me and fruit?

Can't wait for your review, Doc.  And I'll get you that wooden nickel.  I just have to cut it from the tree and carve out Jefferson's face.