The Bizarro Starter Kit (Orange)

Bizarro is the genre of the weird. Inside the Bizarro Starter Kit (Orange), you will find a large sampling of the most entertaining, the strangest, quite possibly the most unique stories to ever see print. This book was my introduction to the genre, and it should be yours as well. Featuring work by Carlton Mellick III, Gina Ranalli, Steve Beard, Andre Duza, John Edward Lawson, Vincent W. Sakowski, D. Harlan Wilson, Jeremy Robert Johnson, Kevin L. Donihe, and Bruce Taylor, the BSK (Orange) is a excellent value. No fewer than four novellas are included, along with selections from large works, and stories unique to this volume. From Ragnarok, to mutually assured destruction, to a trip into the afterlife, the BSK (Orange) covers so many themes and plots it is near impossible to give them the treatment they deserve in such a short space of words. Suffice it to say that even if you don't like some of the stories, there will be at least one that sticks with you if not more. The incredible part of this book is the price. All together, purchasing each of the books that most of these stories appear in could set you back at decent sum. Yet here it is less than fifteen dollars, sometimes less depending on the venue you choose to purchase it from. Beyond the content value, the most important part is the amazing quality of the stories. They are much like cult films, lots of work and careful attention paid to create unique experiences that may not be extremely popular, but should be. You can not go wrong with this one. If you find you like what the Bizarro Starter Kit (Orange) has to offer it is also the easiest way to share with your friends. All in all, an awesome tome by some of the best writers you've never heard of.

You may not like bizarro. It may not be your cup of tea. I decided to read the two bizarro starter kits after having read a small dosage of it in a few other forms and wanted to be immersed in it, to really understand what it is all about. After reading both kits, I have decided that trying to extract a particular logic or style of writing from the various authors who participated in these books is a futile effort. Bizarro may not make sense on a traditional level of thinking, but I think the main thing is that it makes sense in whatever realm or universe the story that is created inhabits.I have seen some bizarro that seems to be heavy with symbolism while other tales perhaps don't have any more depth than a lark the author decided to take off on, but some of it is quite beautiful and obscene at the same time. I probably haven't read enough of this style of writing to be an honest judge of it, and haven't read enough of what influences its authors, which is conveniently posted in the bio of each of them in both of the starter kits, but I know that I can go from enraptured to repulsed within the same tale with more frequency in bizarro than anywhere else. And I think that is a key element of this type of work-it is something that doesn't allow you to relax, or rest as you breeze through passages that are interconnected with regular, everyday logic. Instead, you are forced to remain vigilant, observant of every word, every phrase, because within may lie a totally different experience, a different exposure to something unique and strange.

First, for anyone wondering if they should pull the trigger and buy this: DO IT. For the money that Amazon is asking, this is SO worth it. The stories are printed so that there are two columns of text on each page which allows them to stick more stories and novellas into the book. It's 236 pages but really you are getting twice as much.I won't go through each and every story (someone has already done that)... but just know that you are getting a selection of the cream of the crop of the bizarro movement. Now, when I say "movement", it's not a snooty artsy movement. Nah, this is all fun and bizarro games. Crazy satire, wit, and intelligence abounds in this volume.Two stories stick out.. the classic "Baby Jesus Butt Plug" by Carlton Mellick.. and "The Greatest F**king Moment in Sports" By Kevin L. Donihe. Those two are probably my favorites. Classic works, in my opinion.. and I think they'll be remembered for a long time to come.So, if you are thinking about getting into the weird new genre called BIZARRO.. then pick this up. For people in college, this is a great book to keep with you so when you're waiting for class, you have something to read that'll last you a long time.However, for the casual reader, some of this stuff is VERY strange and sometimes offensive (to those who are religious, etc). But I implore you, look beyond your offense and just appreciate some good old fashioned fun. Just think of some of this stuff as Dr. Seuss or Alice in Wonderland for adults. Just dive in and enjoy the pretty colors.

Bizarro writing is not for the timid. This collection of stories by some of the genre's brightest stars proves that in spades. Anyone who is a fan of David Lynch movies or Franz Kafka's writing should pick up a copy and dive in. If those auteurs frighten you, give this collection a read and broaden your horizons. The stories and themes swing wildly from ridiculous to profane to down right confusing, all the while grabbing the reader by the short hairs and pulling him/her along for the ride. Don't get comfortable with any of the ideas in this book (as if that would be possible.) The problem with pigeonholing anything in the Bizarro genre is that is varies so much from one writer to the next. They all display incredible skills as storytellers, but the way they tell those stories could not be more different.The Bizarro Starter Kit is just that, a starting point in this ever changing, ever-challenging corner of the lit world. It also includes brief bios of the writers behind the weird works as well as links to other places the reader can find more from these uniquely talented individuals.

Being a fan of short stories and having only recently heard of the Bizarro movement I decided to give this book a go primarily because I did know of Carlton Mellick and his name was on the cover. I didn't know what to expect and that's probbly the best place to come from when reading this book because nothing within goes the way of normality or logic, which,i suppose,is the point and genius of Bizarro.There are novellas and short tales here (a couple of pages) and each is like a nightmare dreamscape filled with scatter-shot invention,absurdity and hallucinogenic prose.To be honest there were some stories I didn't find very good but those are in the minority here and more than made up for by some truly excellent tales, my highlight being the hotel which serves as an after-life hell-hole for most or utopia for the rich,a story which,alone, is almost worth buying this book for.There are ten authors in all with each being given a preface of works,influences and interests. I discovered a few authors here who I had never heard of and will be getting more of their books simply because I liked their stories in this book and finding new and interesting writers can only be a good thing.I recommend this collection if you want something truly innovative and thought provoking or if you've ever just wondered what it would be like if pencils and water could talk. There's something for everyone...maybe not everything but more than enough. Thank you

I'm cagey about saying I like Bizarro since it's a genre which includes some writers I absolutely love and some I just can't get into at all - in roughly equal proportions. I have been following the scene for years though and it keeps on throwing up writers I like so I'm happy to take a chance on an anthology like this.I'm not going to rate the short stories which make up this anothlogy individually - I'll just say nothing was really stand out for me, but there was nothing terrible, either. Some stories are zany and dumb, some are very dark and unsettling - a fair amount of mood-whiplash.As an anthology, however it's a great way to experience a range of authors, I particularly like the way each contributor gets a page to introduce themselves before their stories. For me it contained some familiar names and some unfamiliar ones, which was exactly what I wanted. It's probably not the book I'd give to a friend who asked for an introduction to Bizzaro (I'm biased, I admit - I'd give them some Steve Aylett) but I'm glad I bought it and I'll be reading the Blue Bizarro Starter Kit next ( The Bizarro Starter Kit (blue) ). The Bizarro Starter Kit (blue)

These stories even got my son reading. The unexpected twists, rules and worlds of Bizarro are difficult to explain. It's best to read this anthology to get a feel of it.

Not my sort of thing. Gross stories. My mistake.