Blog Posts - Brandon Barrows - Author

Brandon Barrows Comics

Happy Fourth of July! Check out some all-American Fiction!

7/4/2023

New post is a couple days late this week to more closely coincide with Independence Day, the Fourth of July!

To celebrate, here's some all-American fiction by yours truly! All westerns, the period that perhaps best defines our country!

I hope you'll check out these works that celebrate a piece of Americana and enjoy them! Please let me know your thoughts and as always, stay safe and have a happy holiday weekend!

A Hanging Matter - the first Marshal Ernie Farrar story! Free to read at Crimson Streets eZine!

Noose-Hungry - the second Marshal Ernie Farrar story! Also free to read at Crimson Streets!

Trail of Lead and Gold - a standalone western! Free to read at Crimson Streets!

The Home Place - available on Kindle as a Full Speed Singles ebook! Only 99 cents!

And last, but certainly not least, my novella Wild Yellow - published in StoryHack Magazine #4, available in ebook or in print!

On My Mind: Rikako Akiyoshi's THE DARK MAIDENS

6/28/2023

I bought this novel on a whim because I enjoy a lot of Japanese fiction and the elevator pitch--"Rashomon in an all-girl's high school"--sounded like it might have potential. Not only did it have potential, it blew away my expectations.

Read on.

If you haven't seen the Akira Kurosawa film Rashomon, the story is essentially six characters telling subjective, contradictory and very self-serving accounts of their own recollection of a murder. Each character's story paints themselves in a positive light and casts suspicion on someone else.

The Dark Maidens is very similar, albeit a modern day version set in a Catholic missionary, all-girl's private high school in Japan.

Itsumi, the beautiful, kind, intelligent and exceptionally popular (think benevolent queen of the school) president of the school's literature club has died - violently. Whether it is is suicide or murder, the police have not yet determined, but rumors fly around the school that one of the six other members of the school's literature club has murdered her.

One week later, the literature club is meeting for its annual mystery stew slash original short-story-reading event, the event last of the school-year. Itsumi's best friend, Sayuri, formerly the vice-president and now president of the club, has decided to go on with the event despite Itsumi's death, knowing her best friend would want her beloved club to continue this tradition. The twist is that Sayuri has asked each girl to write, instead of a piece of original fiction, a story about their relationship with Itsumi.

What follows is, like in Rashomon, six stories, one for each girl, detailing how close each was with Itsumi, how wonderful Itsumi was to her and casting suspicion on another member of the club. Throughout these stories, bits and pieces (unbeknowst to the girls) of the truth are interwoven. They're not things you can easily pick up on while reading the stories for the first time, but by the end of the novel, I was genuinely impressed with how Akiyoshi seeded "facts" among the fiction.

Aside from that, the last arc of the novel, Sayuri's story, actually written by Itsumi before her death, threw several twists into the narrative. One, I suspected, but others I never saw coming and was not only surprised, but delighted. The last few pages of the work, especially, throw all the shadows and murkiness of what's come before into stark relief - and in a brutal fashion I could never have expected from the rest of the novel.

If it wasn't obvious, I greatly enjoyed the work. If I have any complaint, it's a personal one rather than a real critique of the work and it's only because I am a westerner reading a novel originally written for Japanese audiences, that being that there's a great deal of space devoted to explaining various Christian holidays and Catholic ceremonies. This is entirely understandable for a Japanese audience, as very few would be familiar with these concepts, but as a westerner, they sort of dragged the narrative down in a few places.

Don't, however, let that deter you. Overall, this is a great novel. I literally couldn't put it down as I read and ended up reading it in one sitting. Very much recommended.

On My Mind: A BILLION DAYS OF EARTH

6/14/2023

I've mentioned Doris Piserchia's A BILLION DAYS OF EARTH before, but I've been thinking about it a bit lately, so let's revisit.

This is a bizarre novel. Probably one of the weirdest I've read. I enjoyed it, though, and it's a book that left a very strong impression in my mind - which doesn't happen often.

Set nearly three million years in the future on a planet Earth that has undergone vast changes, the book follows a fairly large cast of characters from a wide variety of... backgrounds, I guess you'd say. Let me list a little bit of what we know about this world:

Homo sapiens, that is, we humans, have evolved into an eight-foot-tall, super-race that can mentally manipulate matter as easily as breathe. They live in the clouds (literally) above the Earth and are referred to as "the gods".

But there are "humans" still - a race evolved from rats that resemble us almost exactly, save they they retain rat-like paws instead of hands and feet. They wear steel, mechanical hands to make up for the shortcomings (the cover does not accurately depict the "humans" in the book; it's explicitly stated more than once that they look like us save for the hands/feet and that their ears are slightly pointed), but other than that, their society and technology level is basically identical to 1970s Earth.

Most species on Earth seem to have evolved to human or near-human-level intellect, but only the "humans" are considered people. Others are still considered animals. Since they eat farm, raise meat animals, etc, this must be rather strange. You know, being able to converse with your cattle on their way to the slaughterhouse. Very grim, I suppose.

Anyway, the strangest of all is Sheen, who is a one-of-a-kind, seemingly-alien being made of living quicksilver that insists it was born from the Earth itself.

And Sheen is the crux of the plot, really. Sheen subsists on the ego, the sense of self of sentient beings and believes its purpose is to cleanse the Earth of weakness - by making other beings part of itself. It's rather polite about it, though: it asks for permission and if rejected, goes away. For a while, anyway.

There's a lot going on in this novel--mostly world-building and some lesser, mostly-irrelevant subplots--but Sheen's conquering the Earth, and one "man's" stand against it, is the main plot. Again and again, though, Piserchia throws weirdness into the mix--strange creatures and topography mostly--while counterbalancing it with the mundaneness of the culture and these people's everyday lives. What seemed murky, however, was the point of the novel: early on, it seemed to be anti-materialism, but then it seemed as if Sheen was representative of society's tendency towards homogeneity, until it veered off again into a sort of man vs wild kind of deal. This all leads up to an ending that wasn't exactly deus ex machina, but wrapped things up enough for an ending without exactly completing the story. In fact, it left a lot of new questions. I kind of wish Piserchia had written a sequel.

I enjoyed the novel, but I'm glad it was short (only about 60,000 words) as much longer and the weirdness and lack of answers would have started to detract from the pleasure of Piserchia's imagination.

If you're looking for something truly unique, though, definitely check it out for yourself.

Summer Movies: IT Conquered the World

5/31/2023

This should give anyone an idea of how bottom-barrel this thing is right out of the gate. Drive-in fodder, playing in the background while cool teenagers made out. A lot of these low-budget movies were made with the expectation that the films themselves would be ignored. So why do I do this to myself, almost seventy years later?

Oh, yeah.

A lot of people respect Roger Corman for many reasons: his drive to make movies, his variety and prolificness, the fact that he gave a lot of people their first work in film. In his own way, he's definitely an auteur. That doesn't mean he wasn't a hack, though. DON'T GET ME WRONG! There's nothing wrong with being a hack. Someone has to do it and there can be a lot of enjoyment in bad cinema. MST3K wouldn't exist without it, after all.

Speaking of early work, recognize this guy?

Yep. Lee Van Cleef, famed for being a bad man in literally dozens and dozens of westerns. This was far from his first movie, despite it being less than four years into his career (he had already made thirty movies by this point). Here he plays a scientist who's been communicating with Venus. Don't think he ever played a scientist before or after this. At any rate, he's deluded himself into thinking this alien is his friend and helps the creature find its way to Earth, hoping to usher in an error of peace and goodwill and all that stuff.

Does this look like a creature who wants peace and brings goodwill or does it look like a man-eating space-potato?

Of course it wants to conquer the world. It's in the title of the movie.

It doesn't, though, it just causes panic and wastes a lot of people's time and then the army gets smart and this happens.

Corman did make some good films, but this isn't one of them.

2023 Mustang Awards

5/24/2023

My third year in a row as a finalist.

Cross your fingers for me.

Hitchcockian Themes

5/17/2023

Below is some rambling on Alfred Hitchcock. It's part of an essay I started long, long ago and never finished... For whatever it's worth, enjoy!

Alfred Hitchcock is widely considered one of the greatest film directors of all time, known for his mastery of suspense and psychological themes. Many of his movies feature recurring motifs and themes, such as the innocent man falsely accused, the "wrong man" trope, and the exploration of guilt and innocence.
One of the most prominent themes in Hitchcock's films is the idea of the "wrong man." This trope is seen in many of his movies, such as "The 39 Steps," "Saboteur," and "North by Northwest," where the protagonist is falsely accused of a crime and must clear their name. This theme plays on the audience's fear of being falsely accused and the idea of being caught up in a situation beyond one's control.
Another recurring theme in Hitchcock's movies is the exploration of guilt and innocence. Many of his characters are struggling with their own guilt or the guilt of others, such as in "Shadow of a Doubt" and "Strangers on a Train." The concept of guilt and innocence is often intertwined with the idea of the "wrong man," as the protagonist may be innocent of the crime they are accused of, but guilty of other moral transgressions.
Hitchcock's movies also often feature strong and complex female characters. Many of his leading ladies are independent and resourceful, such as Tippi Hedren's character in "The Birds" and "Marnie," and Grace Kelly's characters in "Rear Window" and "To Catch a Thief." These characters challenge traditional gender roles and add depth to the story.
Another theme in Hitchcock's movies is the idea of voyeurism, or the act of watching others without their knowledge. This theme is seen in films such as "Rear Window," where the protagonist, played by James Stewart, becomes obsessed with observing his neighbors, and "Psycho," where the audience is given a voyeuristic glimpse into the mind of the film's antagonist. This theme plays on the audience's own voyeuristic tendencies and the idea of the audience as a silent witness to the unfolding events of the story.
Finally, the theme of obsession is also prevalent in Hitchcock's films, where characters are consumed by a single idea or person. This theme can be seen in films like "Vertigo," where James Stewart's character becomes obsessed with a woman, and "Rebecca," where the protagonist becomes obsessed with the memory of her deceased husband's first wife.
In conclusion, Alfred Hitchcock's films are known for their exploration of psychological themes such as guilt, voyeurism, and obsession. His films often feature the "wrong man" trope, where the protagonist is falsely accused of a crime and must clear their name, and strong and complex female characters. These themes, along with his masterful use of suspense, have cemented his place in history as one of the greatest film directors of all time.

New Fiction! "Master Touch" in Mystery Magazine, May 2023!

5/3/2023

I have a new historical mystery--a first for me--called "Master Touch" in the new issue of Mystery Magazine!

In our cover feature story, “Lupita” by Michael McGuire, a young woman, apparently on a voyage of self-discovery, discovers the guilty party.

“The Story Of Andre Venge” by Alan Orloff is full of Sugar Mamas, Black Widows, and dishes best served cold.

“Hypnagogia” by Robert Lopresti: Kevin tells his dinner party guests about hypnogogia, a form of hallucination. One guest may be a little too interested …

‘Family Ties’ by Veronica Leigh: Sheriff Claire Williams is attending a funeral and is shocked when the coffin is accidentally dropped and pops open. There is a second body in with the deceased! She believes a crime was committed—possibly a murder—and sets out to prove it.

“Master Touch” by Brandon Barrows: The murder of an artist is serious, but not calamitous—unless a relative of the new Doge is a suspect.

“Raising Money” by R.T. Lawton: Danny and Jackson are trying out a new con scheme called Raising Money, which involves raising the denominations on existing currency. Ones turn into tens and tens turn into hundreds. All they need is a believer with extra cash.

“The Conservatory” by Linda Watkins: What do revenge, murder, and horticulture all have in common? Former NIA agent, Simon Biggs, is about to find out when he enters The Conservatory.

“No Nickel-And-Dime Theft,” a You-Solve-It by Bruce Harris: Can you help figure out the guilty party in this mystery of rare coins and twin suspects.
Cover Art By Robin Grenville Evans

Shortlisted for the Mustang Award

4/26/2023

This is the third year in a row I've entered the Mustang Awards. Both 2021 and 2022 saw me as a finalist, and this year I've been shortlisted...

Cross your fingers that this is the year!

New Story! New Crimeucopia!

4/19/2023

A new volume of Murderous Ink's Crimeucopia anthology series is out, entitled "Strictly Off the Record" and it includes my crime story, "A Real Artist"!

With 16 vibrant authors, a wraparound paperback cover, and pages full of crime fiction in some of its many guises, what’s not to like?

So if you enjoy tales spun by Anthony Diesso, Brandon Barrows, E. James Wilson, James Roth, Jesse Aaron, Jim Guigli, John M. Floyd, Kevin R. Tipple, Maddi Davidson, Michael Grimala, Robert Petyo, Shannon Hollinger, Tom Sheehan, Wil A. Emerson, Peter Trelay, and Philip Pak, then you'd better get Crimeucopia - Strictly Off The Record by the sound of it!

I Sold A New Novel!

4/12/2023

I've sold a mystery novel, entitled The Devil Only Knows to Bloodhound Books!

Here's the publisher's official announcement on their website, and below a little teaser I wrote about the book.

Money, murder, and maybe love - Holly Shaw found it all in a lonely house on the edge of the world.

The book is currently scheduled for publication at the end of this year. More details to come!