A Raw, Raunchy, and Raucous Good Time

How else could you describe these stories? Not for the faint of heart? Nah. I’m going with nearly perfect for these times when too many people have a burr up their asses about—well, everything. This collection of short stories is quite the trip down Lansdale Lane. It's full of potholes, bumps, and hairpin turns that take the form of deviant preachers with just a bit more than murder on their minds, bounty hunters, feeble-minded ghosts, dead dogs, and hoodoo men. And if you aren’t familiar with Bubba Ho-Tep, you are in luck. This is where it all began. Did I mention the nuns? Hope you NEVER run into them. 

You’ll find yourself on the far side of the Cadillac Desert with Dead Folks. And speaking of dead folks, what happens when the love of your life crosses over the rainbow bridge before you? Well, you might just have to track down Death and have a little chat. This collection is titled The Essential Horror of Joe R. Lansdale. Telling more of any of these stories wouldn’t be fair to you, the reader. 

If you aren't familiar with Lansdale's work, well shame on you! He has done as much for horror and crime as much as King for horror. And the fact that there are still people out there who don't know Joe R. Lansdale is a damn sin. If you are one of those people, you now have the perfect opportunity to unfuck that. And if you know—you know.

Lansdale. Call me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Essential Horror of Joe R. Lansdale

by Joe R. Lansdale

Published by Tachyon Publications

7 October 2025

ISBN  : ‎ 978-1-61696-446-7 (print); 978-1-61696-447-4 (digital)

332 pages

#TheEssentialHorrorofJoeRLansdale #NetGalley

As always. I encourage you to buy from independent bookstores. 

    

Hang On Tight and Try To Keep Up

I went into this one completely clueless other than knowing I was in for some kind of ride.

More than a romp, this road trip book is crazy. You'll find more twists, turns, and surprises in this story than you would if you made it to the last call in a dozen of the South's most insane dive bars listening to THAT guy tell the most unbelievable stories you have ever heard. Like much of Lansdale's work, this one is hard to pigeonhole. JANE GOES NORTH is a buddy story/road trip of two women who really don't like each other. It's a little comedy and a little crime painted with a broad brush of violent, Southern Gothic. One bit of advice to take with you after reading this one—if you are driving through any tiny, hole-in-the-wall, backwater Southern towns make sure you have a full tank of gas and you do NOT stop at the Save-Mart for anything.

I listened to the audiobook. Kasey Lansdale's reading of Jane Goes North adds an extra layer of Lansdale goodness. I'd suggest you give it a listen, even if you have already read it.

The image above is the cover from the Subterranean Press release, but I have to include the paperback cover version of this from Pandi Press. It features a vintage Thunderbird. It is not the car from the story, but for those who have known me for a long time, I used to have one of these beauties. My father bought it off the showroom floor. The family took it West for an epic road trip of our own back in 1969. It was my mom and dad, my sister, Debbie, and our dog, Peanuts, all jammed into the T-Bird and hauling a 13-foot Shasta camper. Florida to California and back. We were packed so tight we couldn't put the top down. My father gave it to me not long before he died. I had it up until a few years ago. It was getting too expensive to maintain. I sure did hate to part with it. 

---

On a side note, since I mentioned Kasey Lansdale. I had the pleasure of working with her a while back on one of my own stories, TALL TALES 'N' TREMBLIN.' It is a short story that came out of some character development and research that I was noodling on for the novel that I have been working on for years. The good news is that I am finally on the editing stage, so I hope to be ready to query agents before year's end. My story was originally published as part of the weekly Kaidankai: Ghost and Supernatural Stories podcast. I had heard Kasey read DEAD MAN'S CURVE, a story she and her father co-wrote for the anthology, NIGHTS OF THE LIVING DEAD. We I got word that my story was going to be read, I thought I'd reach out to Kasey and see if she would be interested. I couldn't believe she was available. Thanks again Kasey!