In this blog's most recent post (here), Old Sins Cast Long Shadows revealed that it would be exploring a wider field of horror-related topics. Not abandoning nineteenth-century horror–not by a long shot–but not exclusively limited to it either.
The door was unlocked, which didn’t surprise Taylor a bit, especially since she hadn’t locked her own door ever. She pushed it open slowly. Before she had a chance to look inside, Fritz started up such a howling that she had to turn around to shut him up. He would have none of that, though, and he pulled so hard on the leash that Taylor just let him go—she knew he’d go straight home, so there was no need to worry. “Stupid mutt!” she called after him, then turned back to the door which had swung open in the meantime.
The first thing to hit her was the smell, and she quickly covered her nose with her hand. Then she was astonished to see that someone seemed to have sprayed red paint all over the walls of Sarah’s living room, and she surveyed the walls in stunned fascination for just a few moments until an uneasy realization started to creep into the back of her mind. The thought was confirmed a few seconds later when she dropped her gaze to the floor and saw an arm—it had to be Sarah’s arm, she thought deliriously as she started to lose everything—lying on the throw rug in front of the TV.
And then she did lose everything, and she collapsed on the porch of Sarah’s house. It was good that she lost consciousness when she did, or she would have seen much, much worse than a severed arm.
An excerpt from Nogglz.
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Tom Walsh's Nogglz was published in 2015 in Kindle format, by Living Life Fully Publications.
Nogglz[i] is a novella in which the author plays to the strengths of that format expertly. Walsh utilizes short chapters to highlight the rapid flow of the story. It is important for the reader to remember that, from beginning to end, the entire tale takes place within a span of 24 hours. Also, in keeping with the fast-paced nature of the novella-format, minimal back story was provided, and that, only when absolutely necessary to forward the storyline.
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This is the story of the final death throes of Canyon Bluff, a small coal-mining town in Colorado. Canyon Bluff's population at the start of the tale numbered 27 residents, plus a few visitors; some welcome, some not. The isolated location of Canyon Bluff provided an ideal stage for this tale.
An anthropology graduate student is studying the decline of old mining towns (as well as the personalities of the last hold-out residents). She is looking forward to finishing her project and going home. It is through this graduate student that the town of Canyon Bluff has its dark past exposed. And, it is those past sins that return to torment the townspeople in the present.
The graduate student's questioning about the history of Canyon Bluff provided an opportunity for the townsfolk (such as are still alive) to espouse their philosophy of life. Those few remaining find themselves trapped in Canyon Bluff. Over the course of that night, they come to understand that evil never dies; rather it festers. Combining with an older power, this wickedness returns to wreak a bloody vengeance.
Following a short opening chapter, the story-proper begins with the terrifying and brutal dismemberment of an old lady. The gory nature of which is then revisited each time anyone attempts to examine the crime scene–usually with vomitous results. In addition to this, numerous throats were torn out, bodies eviscerated, and other such.
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Apparently, the focus of Tom Walsh's organization, Living Life Fully and its publishing arm, Living Life Fully Publications, is as a source of inspiration and wisdom as it relates to leading a fulfilling life and attaining happiness. While researching this organization, at first I thought I was looking at the wrong website; "... dedicated to the concept of living a full life..." is not what I associate with the website of a horror author.
Walsh writes both fiction and non-fiction. Nogglz is his sixth and only horror novel to date. In the comments regarding this book on his website, Walsh revealed his subtext to the creation of this work. I encourage you all to read it.[ii] What's more, Walsh wrote:
I also didn't want to write a gorefest; I didn't want the book to be gory murder after grisly murder. There are some unsettling images in the story, but I did my best not to take them too far.
What?!
While Walsh did not fixate on the dismembered body parts and torn-out throats, he most certainly did not shy away from the imagery either. To claim otherwise is disingenuous.
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While not my usual horror-fiction fare, I found the short novel Nogglz to be a fun, fast-paced and quite bloody read! Despite the fact that it was written in 2015 as well as having an unusual supernatural and weird element, I thoroughly enjoyed Nogglz. With minor reservations, I strongly recommend this work to fans of horror.
As a piece of modern horror fiction, Nogglz hits hard and fast leaving a bloody wake. If this is a typical example of modern horror literature, I will have to explore this sub-genre further.
References
Print Resources
Digital Resources
Walsh, Tom. Nogglz. Living Life Fully Publications. 2015 .Kindle Edition.
Online Resources
Walsh, Tom. "Nogglz--a novel of terror (with some life lessons in there, too!)." Living Life Fully. Accessed 14 December 2017.
http://www.livinglifefully.com/nogglz.htm
[i] The word is a child's corruption of the moniker Naugle's boys."
[ii] Walsh, Tom. "Nogglz--a novel of terror (with some life lessons in there, too!)." Living Life Fully. <http://www.livinglifefully.com/nogglz.htm>
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