“Samson and Denial” from Robert Ford is gritty dark crime tale with a twist of the supernatural. This novella is easily read in a sitting or two due to its fast pace and wonderful first person narrative reminiscent of a great film noir or pulp novel of the past.
Samson runs a palm shop and deals drugs. The former brings him into the possession of what Nick–his loser, regular client–claims to be the severed head of an ancient mummy. The latter gets his brother Marky murdered soon thereafter. His ex-wife, Tia, who he still loves, goes missing also. Against all odds, he decides to take revenge against the Russian Mafia thugs responsible.
Well, maybe the odds aren’t so bad once he learns what that mummy head can do. No spoilers here.
All this excitement and wonderful character development is set against the backdrop of the streets of Philadelphia. An author’s note informs us Ford spent some time there but this is obvious in the vivid descriptions of both the city streets and many crazy street people that show up along the way. Some of them are so bizarre the reader assumes they are a product of “truth is stranger than fiction.”
I highly recommend this novella of revenge and regrets. It is thrilling, darkly comic and often poignant as well, without being overly sentimental.
– George Wilhite
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
