Frank H. (perryfran) reviewed on 10/19/2017 + 1184 more book reviews

This was definitely the most disturbing and horrifying collection of stories I have ever read! If you are easily offended, you may want to keep clear of this one. That said, the stories were such that you just have to keep on reading to see what kind of bizarreness Lansdale comes up with next. I've read a few other books by Lansdale including some of his Hap and Leonard stories and his wonderful THE BOTTOMS. Most of the stories in High Cotton come from the same East Texas southern redneck bigoted arena as his novels, but then takes them to an extreme next level. Some of the ones to look out for include The Pit, Booty and the Beast, Steppin' Out Summer '68, Incident on a Mountain Road, and especially, Drive-In Date and Night They Missed the Horror Show. The last two mentioned really take it to the next level so be warned! Also included are some gentler stories in the science fiction/alternative history vein but for the most part these are really gut-wrenching. Lansdale also pulls no punches in describing the bigotry of the people in his stories. The "N" word was used more in this collection than in Huckleberry Finn. Overall, I would recommend this for the not so squeamish.

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