ALL PULP REVIEWS by Ron FORTIER
MONSTER EARTH
Edited by Jim Beard & James Palmer
208 pages
Mechanoid Press
Talk about hitting a homerun your first time at the plate,
this book does just that. It is
the first title from writer James Palmer’s new company, Mechanoid Press, and it
is a pure joy for monster junkies of all persuasions. Working with co-editor, Jim Beard, what the two have done is
created an alternate world where giant monsters appeared just prior to the
outbreak of World War II. Then, in
various stories by their colleagues, the effects of their presence is made
known throughout the history of the next thirty years.
Thus the theme of the collection is to answer that question,
“What would our world be like if all those movie monsters like Godzilla and all
the rest were real?” Aiding Beard
and Palmer answer that question are five other talented monster-lovers
providing us with marvelous tales of sheer unadulterated imagination.
“The Parade of Moments,” kicks everything off with Jim
Beards relating old man’s memories his days as a newsreel cameraman. He was in China during the height of
the Japanese – Chinese conflict in 1937.
It was his good (or bad) luck to be on the scene with the first giant
tentacle demon appeared under the command of the Japanese. Later, in Shanghai, he films the
arrival of the gargantuan Foo Dog monster of Chinese myth as it does battle
with the enemy sea monster. This
is where the world changes forever.
Writer I.A. Watson picks up the thread with his “The
Monsters of World War II, or, Happy Birthday, Bobby Fetch.” You have to give some applause for that
title alone. The story takes place
in Hawaii on the morning of Dec. 7th, 1941 and the attack on Pearl
Harbor by Japanese forces; this time aided by their giant squid-like sea
creature. Young Bobby Fetch, newly
arrived with his scientist parents befriends a beautiful young girl who teaches
him the myths of the Hawaiian dragons.
Giant winged monsters devoted to protecting the islands and their
people. The boy soon learns all
true heroism comes with a cost.
With the end of the war, countries find themselves having to
lock up their monsters, such as the American fur covered beast called Johnson
in Jeff McGinnis’ marvelous entry, “The Beast’s Home.” Military authorities keep Johnson imprisoned
in Los Angeles because of its being on the west coast. When the monster breaks free on several
occasions, wreaking havoc and great loss of life, the city is soon abandoned by
the movie industry and becomes nothing more than a gilded ghost town. This was our favorite story in the
book.
“And A Child Shall Lead Them,” brings us into the 1960 where
writer Nancy Hansen tells of a giant Snake Goddess from India who chases a
false guru to the shores of Boston attempting to reclaim what was stolen from
her. When the U.S. Military
unleashes its own monster, a giant Thunderbird, a battle royal ensues that
threatens to completely destroy the Hub City unless a teenage boy and old
derelict can soothe the savage behemoths with their ancient folk-music.
Edward M. Erdelac continues this Native American thread with
his “Mighty Nunuq,” a giant polar bear connected to the Inuit people of the
frozen north. But once again, all
such supernatural beings demand sacrificial offerings.
Fraser Sherman’s sixth entry, “Peace With Honor,” is set in
the last days of the Vietnam War with both sides using monsters to not so much
to win as to find a honorable exit to the conflict that so ravaged both
sides. Thus the North Vietnamese
unleash their giant bat-monster the Shrieker who must battle Junior Johnson,
the offspring of the famous L.A. monster used to defeat the Japanese in World
War II.
The unifying thread that moves through all these stories is
used to maximum advantage here as each new story builds on the foundations set
by the others thus world-building a very believable Earth and its horrifying
history.
Co-Editor James Palmer wraps up the book with “Some Say in
Ice,” which is the most exaggerated, bombastic, over-the-top fishing story ever
told. American monster scientists
head to the frigid arctic waters to capture an illusive sea creature few have
ever seen. How they go about this
is fantastic and wonderfully captures the true core of “Monster Earth.” It’s a grand send off and left this
reviewer applauding soundly.
“Monster Earth” is what New Pulp is all about. It’s fresh, original, with a tip of the
hat to those old black and white cinema thrills we all enjoyed as
youngsters. If this book doesn’t
have a sequel, then there’s something really wrong with this Earth. Go get it now…before
the monsters get you!
