Clinical, Brutal… An Anthology of Writing with Guts

Edited by Christopher Nosnibor
Clinicality Press (2010)
ISBN 9780955693922
Reviewed by Victoria Gonzales for Reader Views (05/10)


This is a nauseating and very surreal collection of short stories and poems that captured my attention from the front cover, to the very last page. The front cover is stark white with blood spatter. The contributors to this collection are Christopher Nosnibor, Pablo Vision, Kestra Faye, Jim Lopez, Radcliff Gregory, Díre McCain, Stewart Home, A.D. Hitchin, Richard Kovitch, Lee Kwo, S.F. Grimm, David Mark Dannov, D M Mitchell, Radcliff Gregory, Jock Drummond, Lucius Rofocale, Stuart Bateman, Karl van Cleave, Vincent Clasper, Constance Stadler, Bill Thunder, David Mark Dannov, Simon Phillips, and Maria Gornell. There are clearly many authors and poets who have added their vision to this collection, and each one of them has a different voice and style. Some of the authors are established in this genre, and some of them are new; however, all of the authors are very skilled writers, and their styles of writing are very unique. Some of the stories are very short, some are longer, and some almost seem like they are going to be a “normal” story, but then they turn into a nightmare before you know it. There were several times that I felt like I was going to hurl while reading this book, but I didn’t want to discount it. I think it is a worthwhile read, if you can stand it. It gives you a glimpse into a world filled with violence and brutality, but doesn’t offer you the usual explanation. In these stories, violence and brutality simply exist, and they happen sometimes without reason or explanation.

I won’t include an example of the writing in this collection, because each author has a different writing style and all of the stories are very unique and it wouldn’t represent the book as a whole. Each story in “Clinical, Brutal… An Anthology of Writing with Guts” functions on its own, and I recommend reading them each separately. Reading the whole book in one sitting is overwhelming and really messes with your head. I recommend this book with hesitation; I really don’t know what kind of person would enjoy it.

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