“Zombie Cabana Boy” by Suzanne Palmer
“Three-Legged Bird” by Vylar Kaftan
“The Lady in the Tigris” by Daniel Kaysen
“Faces in Walls” by John Shirley

Reviewed by Rhonda Porrett

In Suzanne Palmer’s “Zombie Cabana Boy,” a recently widowed housewife confesses to watching her husband of twenty-six years die of natural causes with his face buried in a plateful of pasta. Marilou, far from being distraught, sells the family business and escapes ho-hum suburbia to discover passion in the tropics. Hot, young, and dimwitted cabana boys are eager to satisfy her needs in pounding fits of ecstasy, but Marilou is suspicious when they start chewing on her head during sex. When she discerns the boy toys are all zombies, no amount of showering can make Marilou feel clean again.

Despite her revulsion, she succumbs to temptation and continues to use the cabana boys for their intended purpose. Marilou even gets involved in the business end of raising the dead by helping pimp out the zombies for cash. Her attitude changes when she falls in love with one of the undead.

The strength of “Zombie Cabana Boy” lies in Marilou, the feisty and unapologetic narrator who confesses her crimes to the police. Where the story falls apart is its failure to adequately explain how the zombies’ behavior is modified to copulate rather than kill. I also question the ability of a pupil to exact revenge on her mentor in a scheme we never see come to fruition. The supernatural aspects of this tale are often glossed over, and the rushed ending lacks the engaging detail that flavors the beginning.

Symbolism runs strong in Vylar Kaftan’s poignant commentary about the sex slave trade and its victims. The “Three-Legged Bird” paints a picture of a vulnerable prostitute who longs to escape her detestable situation. Jin-Sook, smuggled out of Korea and into San Francisco, works at a brothel with other Korean women. A samjogo—a magical three-legged bird—crashes into a window then falls to the ground. The women are unsure if the samjogo is stunned or dead, and Jin-Sook is filled with pity for the poor creature.  She tries to nurse the bird back to health but is thwarted by her more unsympathetic companions.

The story reminds me of Emily Dickinson’s famous poem, “Hope is a thing with feathers that perches on the soul.” Since this is Black Static, I would expect the feathered thing to be a vulture, but a mutant bird works just as well.

Although “Three-Legged Bird” has its merits, it didn’t grab me as it should have because too much back story impedes the flow of this otherwise emotional and thought-provoking tale. The gloomy ending is standard fare for horror and ties up the plot nicely. No surprises.

Anything can happen in Daniel Kaysen’s “The Lady in the Tigris,” at least in The Game. Aliens land on the moon, the dead are brought back to life, fairies fight with police, mermaids are tracked by satellite, and dragons are convicted of tax evasion. When aliens do land on the moon, Anthony believes the myriad of cards that make up The Game are somehow prophetic. He tries to solve the mystery of the cards in a frenzied quest to save Earth from invaders. Only Our Lady of Snakes can help Anthony answer the riddle of The Game, but in finding her he has to face the most terrifying truth of all.

Well-written, imaginative, unexpected, and fun—or as fun as horror can be. Plot twists keep the story engaging. Daniel Kaysen has opened up a clever world of possibilities that I wanted to dive into. The clichéd ending (he realizes it was all a dream) is a minor nuisance overshadowed by theme in this scary romp into the modern-day mindset of young men and women whose reality is warped by entertainment overload.

“Faces in Walls” by John Shirley focuses on the day-to-day monotony endured by a paralytic man who is also mute. Douglas, who can only move his eyelids, is plagued by bedsores, boredom, inattentive aides, and a mysterious yet sadistic visitor he calls Sam Sack. Faces appear in the walls of his room, to include a friendly apparition named Beth who can hear Douglas’s thoughts and even hold a conversation with him. She tells him the story of how she came to live in the walls, and they discover a special connection to each other. Together, they battle the evil that inhabits Wemberly Sanitarium.

John Shirley starts off by lulling the reader into believing this is a literary slice-of-life piece by concentrating on the inner musings of Douglas. Don’t be fooled; it’s just the slow ride up the first hill of a rollercoaster, rickety cart clacking and jerking along the cable until it reaches the zenith . . . a heart-stopping view from atop . . . then a swift plummet downward to race through the rest of the ride. My advice—get in the cart. You won’t be sorry. And never mind those loose bolts on the wheel.

A treat for fans of gore, John Shirley isn’t afraid to make the reader squirm. My main quibble is that the character of Beth is an enigma. Her ability to transition from one substance to another seems convenient. Blood is the key, or is it rage? No it’s blood. Hey, where’d she go? Also, the superhuman strength of a man who’s been paralyzed for six years warrants a better justification than electrical stimulation and rage. The Tin Man needs more oil.

The four stories in Black Static #17 complement each other due to the varied emotions elicited by the lead characters. Two standouts but only one will keep you up at night.

Black Static’s website can be found here.