Slither by Edward Lee

Professor Nora Craig and her research assistant, Loren are America’s foremost authorities on the intricate study of worms. They’ve been chosen to accompany a National Geographic photographer and an Army Lieutenant onto an island off the Florida Keys in search of the rare “Scarlet Bristleworm”. What they find there is something all together different, a previously undiscovered worm which has the capability to grow extremely rapidly, can eat through metal and concrete, and likes to spawn eggs in moist warm places like human bodies. Two other small groups of island visitors have preceded the main foursome and have already discovered the horror to be found there. There is also a military presence on the island which leads us to believe they are conducting biological experiments.

The first three quarters of this novel is a pretty standard movie-of-the-week style horror yarn. Sort of a combo of a creature feature and swamp sleaze. The photographer is a young, beautiful girl who happens to be as promiscuous as can be so there are ample opportunities for sexual innuendo and teasing which morphs into full-on sex scenes. Later, as the worm infestation comes into fruition, the sex stuff morphs once again into gross-out sex, with all kinds of eggs, larvae, etc. leaking and oozing out of various orifices….ugh…you get the idea.

The final quarter of the novel seems to be a case of the author writing himself into a corner and seeking a solution that will make some kind of sense for how these worms came to be. I won’t spoil that in this review but suffice it to say that it mostly works as long as you can suspend every shred of disbelief in your brain. I did appreciate that the ignorant and arrogant souls on this island get what they deserve while the intelligent ones are able to rationally think through possibilities for survival. That doesn’t always happen in these sorts of stories.

I will likely read more of this author's stuff as I still have at least three more of his books on my shelf. But much like Richard Laymon's body of work, I'll need plenty of time between them to shower and recuperate, lest I go insane.

Monstrosity by Edward Lee

My first Edward Lee horror novel and based on this one, likely not my last.  Nice plot, good pacing and nicely done horror mixed with a lot of over-the-top craziness. Sort of like watching a car crash...repulsive in many ways but I can't look away. Reminds me a lot of Richard Laymon and since I've read most of his books, Lee might serve well as a replacement.

One problem with this novel, however, which struck me a lot more than it will most readers. The author's biography tells of some time served in the US Army. However, his characters in this book are almost all ex-Air Force security forces people. Unfortunately, the author made quite a few assumptions that the AF is the same as the Army. It's not. For example, his AF characters refer  to shopping at the PX ("Post Exchange" in Army terms) instead of the "BX ("Base Exchange for AF). He references security platoons (sorry, no platoons in the AF). I could list more examples but you get the idea. Minor points to be sure but it represents lazy writing. These are all easily researched items, even way back in 2003 when this was published.

I intend to sample more of Lee's work from time to time.