Bumper Crop [Paperback]

In his introduction to the book, Lansdale explains that the term "Bumper Crop" refers to when crops provide an added splurge or treat for the growing season. This book is indeed that, and should be seen as an accompaniment to Lansdale's previous short story collection, "High Cotton." The two combined serve as the culmination of what Lansdale refers to as his best work.

Some of my favorites in this volume include:

"God of the Razor" opens the book quite nicely. A man wanders into an old southern Gothic mansion with hopes of finding antiques. However, he finds that the mansion has not stood vacant all this time as he had thought. Furthermore, the man discovers that there may be more to serial killers than meets the eye.

"Chompers" describes a set of false teeth that have a mind all their own and a taste for blood and flesh.

"On a Dark October" is a monster tale and speaks of an annual tradition that takes place in a dark garage on Halloween night.

"Bar Talk" is what happens when an alien visits Earth and sits down for a conversation and a drink.

"The Companion" is a story Lansdale wrote with his children, and is meant to be a good old-fashioned spooky campfire story. A scarecrow made to serve as a companion to a farmer after his wife's death comes is more than a mere compilation of twigs and hay.

"Bestsellers Guaranteed" is perhaps my favorite story in this book, and one of the longest at about 14 pages. How far would one struggling author go to be guaranteed a best-selling book each year?

In addition to these incredible stories, Lansdale has written a short introduction for each of the 26 tales in this volume, indicating his thoughts on and inspiration for every story included, which is a very nice touch. Many of these tales were influenced by Bradbury, and many were written for the Twilight Zone magazine. All, however, are very good in their own unique way. Though these stories have found their way into print previously, it is wonderful to have them all in one complete volume. This collection (both "Bumper Crop" and "High Cotton" together) should not be missed by fans of dark fiction, and those who have a taste for the strange, the weird, and the amazing.

For the majority of its all-too-short time on this mudball, I was a devoted reader of Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone magazine. I was lucky enough to stumble upon the first issue by chance on a newsstand, and after that I subscribed until the bitter end. Many of the authors I still revere today I first found in the pages of TZ, including Joyce Carol Oates ("The Rose Wall," reprinted in her collection Raven's Wing, was the strongest story in that first issue) and Dan Simmons (whose first published story, "The River Styx Runs Upstream," was the winner of TZ's first fiction contest). But through all those years, I didn't remember seeing Joe Lansdale's name a single time. So when I checked the pub credits page and saw TZ's name by a number of stories, I got to wondering. Then I read the preface, and Lansdale says these stories stick with you. I got to wondering more. Then I read "The Dump,"and the second I saw the name Otto, I bowed to Lansdale's superior firepower. Note, "The Dump" is a story I haven't read in over twenty years, and within the first few words, I remembered it. "Memorable" is an understatement.

Bumper Crop, the second (following High Cotton) volume in Lansdale's personally-selected "Best-Of" collections of his short fiction, is, in short, a whole lot of fun. The stories here, most of which are exceptionally short, run through the early part of his career like a vein of adamantite in a mountain of pure silver. It's all great stuff, but this is just that little bit more rare, more coveted, and harder. "Chompers," "The Fat Man," and, well, just about everything here will leave its mark on you. Two stories will be recognizable to those who have read The Nightrunners (Lansdale, during the seven years between the book's completion and its purchase, took pieces out of it and revised them into stories a number of times). One of them, "God of the Razor," is one of the strongest pieces here, and very highly recommended.

If the book has a weak point, it is "Master of Misery," the last story. It sounds too much like... something. But I can't for the life of me remember what. But, jeez, don't let that stop you. This is great stuff. ****

The author's introductions to each story alone are worth reading the book. Lansdale advises us that many of his stories are the product of his wife's popcorn. Most of the stories are reprints from Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone, The Horror Show, and other publications.

Bumper Crop is appropriately titled as most of the stories have some food or food intake as a major theme. These stories are not for the feint of heart or for the easily frightened. "Chompers" in particular gave me nightmares. The idea of cannibalistic dentures is fairly disturbing to dream about.

Each story has a definitive twist to them. From razor inspired to murderous teeth to prehistoric sharks and on, this collection is one you will not easily forget. One theme repeated in the stories is that inquisitive children, who find out why curiosity killed the cat are not likely to forget the lesson. It is easy to imagine the mongoloid, albino banjo player from Deliverance to be serenading in the background.

Bumper Crop is Joe Lansdale at his finest. I purchased High Cotton to complete my addiction to these 'catchy' little stories.

Joe R. Lansdale is the author of over 20 books and has received numerous honors for his work. He currently resides in Texas with his wife, Karen.