{"id":38043,"date":"2025-03-03T08:05:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-03T13:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/craigzablo.com\/?p=38043"},"modified":"2025-03-03T12:22:44","modified_gmt":"2025-03-03T17:22:44","slug":"skull-full-by-anthony-neil-smith-z-view","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/craigzablo.com\/?p=38043","title":{"rendered":"SKULL FULL by Anthony Neil Smith \/ Z-View"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

SKULL FULL<\/a> by Anthony Neil Smith<\/p>\n

First sentence…<\/p>\n

\n

Cubby sat at the picnic table in the park like always, counting the mosquitos on his arm.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The Overview:\u00a0 Beware of Spoilers\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Anthony Neil Smith presents fourteen short stories that are, as he says are “about f*****-up families, f*****-up relationships, f*****-up crimes, and f*****-up f*****ness, and are adorably twisted around a darkly humorous core.”\u00a0<\/em> (And trust me, he doesn’t say “f*****, he says the actual word.\u00a0 If that offends you, turn back now. )<\/p>\n

The tales include…<\/p>\n

Cubby<\/em> – Cubby thought being special was good.\u00a0 Of course he thought his friends were his friends.\u00a0 A sad tale of a boy waiting for his mother.<\/p>\n

Twenty-Eleven Nissan Something<\/em> – Rhonda thought her luck was changing.\u00a0 Her new man didn’t hit her.\u00a0 Didn’t treat her bad.\u00a0 He even liked her kids.\u00a0 Rhonda knew what her man wasn’t.\u00a0 She didn’t know what he was.<\/p>\n

Exit Row Savior<\/em> – When you fly as much as I do, you know things.\u00a0 You know that if things go sideways, you want a man who can handle things by the exit.\u00a0 I’m your guy.<\/p>\n

Money on the Table and a Pistol on the Floor<\/em> – Randy had a weakness.\u00a0 Wasn’t drugs or gambling.\u00a0 Nope.\u00a0 It was women. Randy had three ex-wives and had lost more jobs than you could easily count.\u00a0 The reason?\u00a0 Women.\u00a0 Take his last job for instance.\u00a0 Fired from Lowe’s for having sex with a nineteen year old while he was on the clock.\u00a0 She was fired too.\u00a0 Now she thinks they’re a, well if not a couple, at least a team.\u00a0 She has a plan for some quick cash.\u00a0 All it will take his her, Randy and his pistol.<\/p>\n

Roadrage<\/em> – Why is everyone screwing with me.\u00a0 I’m driving and everyone is trying me.\u00a0 Well, I have a way to end that.<\/p>\n

The Blind Girl<\/em> – Everyone is a target. Being a sophomore in high school ain’t for the faint-hearted.\u00a0 Everyone is a target.\u00a0 Find your group and blend in.\u00a0 That won’t protect you for sure, but it helps.\u00a0 Everyone is a target.\u00a0 Well, almost everyone.\u00a0 Mess with the wrong person and you might find out.<\/p>\n

A Skull Full of Solyanka<\/em> – I’m getting forgetful.\u00a0 That could be dangerous in my line of work.<\/p>\n

Lady Icarus, Nazi<\/em> – I’m rich.\u00a0 And can get you anything you want.\u00a0 You better believe that.<\/p>\n

Must Be Wanderlust<\/em> – Fay, her pistol and a singer\/songwriter.<\/p>\n

Sundays in the Workshop with Dad<\/em> – Chet loved his time in the workshop.\u00a0 He recognized his son, Jerimiah’s raw talent when the boy was young.\u00a0 So Chet did what any good dad would do.\u00a0 He had patience and put in the time so Jerimiah would be come a true craftsman.<\/p>\n

Used Panties<\/em> – Give the people what they want.<\/p>\n

Piece of Shit Guitar<\/em> – A semi-famous, good-for-nothing musician reminisces as he waits for his son to arrive.<\/p>\n

+++++<\/p>\n

Anthony Neil Smith wasn’t kidding when he described SKULL FULL.\u00a0 He creates tales that will stick with you.\u00a0 If you’re all about happy endings, this isn’t for you.\u00a0 But if you like crime stories that surprise, entertain, and take you to places you’d never want to enter in real life… give it a go.<\/p>\n

My favorite stories in this collection are: Twenty-Eleven Nissan Something; Roadrage; Lady Icarus, Nazi; Sundays in the Workshop with Dad <\/em>and Piece of Shit Guitar.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Rating:<\/strong>
\n\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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