First published back in 1989, ‘Claws & Feathers’ was a collection of four previously published Fastbacks containing stories featuring birds and beasts turning against us. The hardback book was released by Fearon Education under their ‘OPTIMA Large Print Edition’ ‘Fastback Anthologies’ range. The collection was one of ten such collected editions, reprinting four select stories from the popular Fastback range.
© DLS Reviews
The Fastback series were designed to encourage reluctant readers to take up reading, keeping the stories short, sharp and thrilling. In recent years, these collected volumes have become increasingly sought after, in particular those containing Richard Laymon’s often hard-to-find fastback stories.
This particular volume contains the following Fastback stories:
The Good Luck Smiling Cat – Phil Garrison - 28 Pages
Mark Pryor had been out with the boys for a few drinks after work. He’d lost track of time and now it was getting late. He knew Lois wasn’t going to be happy with him, and so he’d popped into the local department store looking for a small gift for her. The five-inch smiling cat ornament with ‘Good Luck’ emblazoned on its base seemed the perfect ‘silly apology’ gift.
However, good luck was far from what was on Mark’s side that night. He’d just finished paying for the ornament and was on his way out of the store when a dark-haired woman bumps into him. The next thing Mark knows, he’s being stopped by security for attempted theft. In his jacket pocket, a necklace of shiny red and white stones. A necklace that Mark has never seen before.
Things escalate quickly, the security guard won’t accept any of Mark’s pleas of innocence. In the ensuing struggle, the security guard’s gun goes off. And with that, Mark can see his marriage, his job, and his way of life all ending…
Here we have a clever little murder mystery. Essentially, a series of events which escalate at a head-spinning rate, but still somehow hold onto an air of believability. Bad luck (or seemingly so), which snowballs unstoppably fast, leading to an accidental shooting and our protagonist – Mark – in the picture as being responsible for it all.
Of course, there’s more to this than what we see at face value. However, Mark’s a smart cookie. He soon works it all out. It’s an elaborate ploy, but after some cunning investigatory work, he gets to the bottom of who’s really behind it all. A clever story, with plenty in there to keep you guessing, despite its short length.
The story was originally released as the standalone fastback ‘The Good Luck Smiling Cat’ (1984).
The Cobra – Richard Laymon – 26 Pages
Decker sat in the ‘Bestburgers’ fast food joint along with her fellow agent, Blake Douglas, from their intelligence division. However, they weren’t there for the burgers. They were planning an elaborate sting to fool the good-looking blonde, Lana Jeffers, and thereby infiltrating the terrorist organisation she was undoubtedly part - The People’s Strike Force.
With the sudden arrival of Hunter and McBain, the elaborate ploy gets underway. From the start Douglas is somewhat sceptical about the whole plot. But it’s too late to back down from it now. They’ve gone through the plan enough, and now it’s time to play out their parts in it. And it’s time for Blake Douglas to play the role of The Cobra…
The short starts off with a classic Laymon setting – a typical American fast-food diner where the so-called ‘intelligence division’ plans to put on a show to gain confidence with their terrorist suspect. The characters and scenario are pure paint-by-numbers American cop thriller material, with the short barely hanging around to explain the situation before the utterly over-the-top faked shoot-out takes place.
From here on the storyline races off with the elaborate infiltration plot looking like it’s nicely on course. Okay, so at this point the reader starts to ponder the twist ending that’s sure to follow. And to be honest, it seems painfully obvious what it will be. But it’s not what you’d expect. Whether Laymon was playing a double-bluff or not, the ending to the short is surprisingly weak and uninspiring, which it must be said is particularly unlike the writer.
Nevertheless, for its short length, the story is still worth ten minutes of anyone’s time.
The story was originally released as the standalone fastback ‘The Cobra’ (1985).
Dressed Up For Murder – Gary Brandner – 28 Pages
Detective Sergeant Miles Becker Wasn’t in a good mood. He was taking his wife Rhoda and their nephew Kevin to Fun World for the day. It wasn’t how he’d choose to spend a precious day off work.
When they arrive, they find Fun World isn’t exactly a magical place of fun and entertainment. Even the park’s star attraction – Barney Bunny – was off for the day. Instead, they had Chubby Chipmunk, who was quite frankly, a lousy substitute. In fact, when the costumed chipmunk turns up for his entertainment slot, he just sits there doing nothing. This was turning out to be the day off from hell for Becker.
However, later on, after spending the day on a variety of crumby rides, the family return to watch Chubby Chipmunk’s second show of the day. And it’s actually not that bad. Even Becker breaks a smile. That was, until the costume clad man falls down all of a sudden, and doesn’t get up again. In fact, he never gets up again.
There’s no doubt that foul play is afoot in Fun World. Even on his day off Becker has to deal with a murder. It seems a sergeant is always on duty…
American horror author Gary Brandner is perhaps best known for his novel ‘The Howling’ (1977). However, what we have here isn’t so much a horror as it is a murder mystery. Essentially, we have a story involving a healthy cast of characters, with their lives all intertwined in some way, an affair, and a crime of passion. Agatha Cristie, eat your heart out!
Despite the story’s short length, Brandner crams in a whole host of details which end up playing a part in the murder of the man playing Chubby Chipmunk. Becker’s investigation is short and sweet, questioning all those who knew the murdered man, whereupon the affair and other critical clues come out.
It’s a fun and entertaining read, with the puzzle pieces coming together relatively quickly. However, it’s with the characterisation and jovial writing style that Brandner’s adopted which makes the story work well. Not exactly a complex or particularly clever story, but entertaining, nonetheless.
The story was originally released as the standalone fastback ‘Dressed Up For Murder’ (1987).
The Bird – A.G. Gersdorf – 50 Pages
When Rhoda Snider was crushed to death after the bleachers collapsed during a water-ballet show on the university campus, her husband simply felt a sense of relief. David Culpepper had been married to Rhoda for ten long years, over which she had gradually worn him down.
David knew Rhoda too had been far from happy with her chosen partner. She’d not even taken his surname after they married. Determined to keep her family name which was so tightly associated with the university.
But now she was gone forever, and David couldn’t help but feel free. Although for whatever reason, he couldn’t seem to shake Rhoda’s lasting presence. Her loudmouthed mynah bird even had his dead wife’s voice. Imitating Rhoda’s resentful tones so well. It was like hearing her from the grave, forever complaining about one thing or another.
David had been given a week off work to mourn. But all the time that despicable bird kept screeching at him. Driving him to distraction. It got to the point where he had to rid himself of it. Let it loose into the world. But even that wasn’t enough. The bloody thing kept coming back. Calling out to him from the porch rail directly outside their apartment.
“David, why did you kill me?”… Why was it saying such things? Why wouldn’t it just go? Moreso, why did he constantly feel so guilty?...
For this double-fastback we have a downbeat and altogether miserable story, that tries to tiptoe somewhere between a strange psychological horror and oddly a black comedy. Not that it’s actually got all that much in it that’ll have you smirking. Essentially, it’s all focused on this poor fella’s miserable life, how he’s been emotionally overruled and held back for the last ten years. Unable to follow the life and career he actually wanted.
But now he’s free… only he can’t seem to shake the lasting impression of his dead wife. This is all projected through her loudmouthed mynah bird – Patty – which he soon renames Mac, another small thing to try to cut all ties with his previous life.
David also has a cat – Alex – who he adores. A cat which you see him putting all his love and affection into. This is of course because he’s lonely and in need of emotional support. Although he has a couple of close friends, it’s David’s interactions with these two contrasting pets where we see the broken man struggling.
So yeah, it’s not exactly a laugh-a-minute. Unfortunately, though, the story doesn’t really take us much further than this. A glimmer of hope for a new life, that’s cut short in sudden tragedy. Or is it revenge? Who knows?! It’s not exactly an accomplished tale. It certainly doesn’t have a clearly defined ending, but rather a mildly ironic conclusion.
The story was originally released as the standalone fastback ‘The Bird’ (1987).
The collection runs for a total of 135 pages.
© DLS Reviews
