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Rash
By Charles Romalotti
Layman Books 0-8979235-1-4
Trade
$8.00There is style of horror fiction going around the last ten years. The authors express the emotion of a generation of children searching or creating a family, something not traditional to society, while mixing in the punk music of the times. The writers who seem to nail it down are Caitlin Kiernan, Poppy Brite, and Kathe Koja; all women. There is one male I can think of but he is a filmmaker: Gregg Araki; that is, until now. Charles Romalotti steps up to the plate and plops his ass there comfortably.
"Rash" is set in the college community of Austin, Texas, and focuses on a small group of teen-age runaways. Jobie, on the run from his family and seeking an ideal world; his brother Opaque, a wannabe artists who wants to make roots; Treva, a child-whore looking for heaven; and Tamika, a new runaway who doesn't fit too well into her skin or the rules society dictates.
The plot is fairly loose: A group of University doctors are experimenting and searching for a cure for skin conditions. But what they end up creating is a terrible rash that eats the flesh away. The doctors use the homeless kids as guinea pigs, particularly Treva.
The captivating and incredibly sad characters are the focus in this book, pushing plot to the background. At times, I felt so much for the characters that I wanted to take them home.
In a way I did.
The writing is swift and poetically descriptive, creating a world that balances on the edge of surreal and real. It grates itself into you consciousness, and might even invade your subconscious.
"Rash" is a brilliant novel that nails down our society of lost children and takes no shit. Plain and simple, this book is a must and you are a fool to ignore it no matter who you are.
Review by Mike Purfield
Critical Raves for Mike Purfield's "Dirty Boots."
"If you're looking for a good read, something you've never experienced before, then this is the book for you." Paul Kane of Terror Tales.
Rated 3 out of 4 by Unhinged Magazine.
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