What would happen if Raymond Chandler and Frank Miller conceived a child in a cheap motel room while a Romero marathon played in the background? Dana Fredsti’s, ‘A Man’s Gotta Eat What a Man’s Gotta Eat.’
The story centers around a private eye named T-Bone in a world where zombies are the dominant species and humans are collected to feed the population. I am generally biased against these grand dark worlds, but Fredsti creates a vivid believable world comprised of small details rather than sweeping vistas and statements. The world created is through and consistent supporting itself naturally within the narratives progression. The best comparison I can make in successes, is Hell in Edward Lee’s infernal series.
T-Bone himself speaks with a clear and distinct voice. The story is told through his perspective. He is a fully developed character in a fully conceived world. What is most impressive about this feat, is how quickly Fredsti accomplishes this in the confines of a short story.
The story itself revolves around a missing person’s case brought to T-Bone, by who else a sexy (for a decomposing body) fatale. Fredsti respects the standard pulp/noir conventions. This keeps the archetypes from delving into self parody and cliché. Zombie and pulp fans should both be pleased with this fast paced distinct offering.
A Man’s Gotta Eat What a Man’s Gotta Eat can be found in Danger City from Contemporary Press.
Thank you so much for this review, M.R.! I am going to be publishing it myself (I think) to Kindle one of these days too, just so I can use the wonderful cover my artist friend Matt Burns created for me...
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