Crime Rave (2015)
Women, survivors, warriors—the hardcore ensemble from Sezín Koehler’s debut novel “American Monsters” survive the worst act of domestic terrorism ever to occur on American soil when 35,000 ravers are murdered in cold blood.
Regathered, and regrown from their remaining body parts, they must work with the LAPD detectives Atticus Red Feather and Synthia Günn to put together the pieces of this monstrous act and face new horrors.
The science experiments of an elite underground lab team, led by Colonel Ripper Ransom—of My Lai massacre fame—want out, and the smog goddess Kaleanathi wants more souls to devour.
What will happen if the survivors fail? The world is full of monsters, but the worst are yet to come.
In the long-awaited follow-up to her first novel “American Monsters”, Sezin Koehler has surfed a genre shift in “Crime Rave” from postmodern feminist horror to a crime and urban fantasy crossover with an all-monsters-in approach to satiate even the most hardened horror fan.
Vampires, werewolves, feminist zombies, aliens, hybrids, mutants, serial killers, war criminals, an evil countess, and more: There’s something for everyone in this fresh take on a supernatural noir story.
Picking up right where “American Monsters” left off—and written with first readers in mind—Koehler weaves us into her tapestry of an alternate universe in which goddesses have free reign over humans, trauma goes hand in hand with superpowers, and Marilyn Monroe lives, in this unique tale of destruction, survival, and redemption for some.
If you’re a new reader, welcome.
If you’re an old reader, welcome back. The scenery has changed some.
Available on Amazon and all other online retailers. Or better, you could have your local bookshop snag one for you.
American Monsters (2011)
An important work of post-modern feminist horror, American Monsters is a poignant, angry volume about predation, the corruption of the rave scene, and empowerment through trauma-related super-abilities.
The first section of American Monsters is The Succubi Sideshow. This is a series of darkly compelling vignettes introducing a wide range of characters. You’ll find no happy, well-balanced individuals in this disturbing gallery. These are the origins of the monstrous denizens of the book. There are good monsters, yes, but there are some very bad ones too.
In the second section, The Phantastic Carnival, the Monsters are brought together through the murderous designs of an ancient, soul-hungry goddess. What could be a better lure for a big haul of youthful life-force than a spectacular Halloween party in a peculiar hill-top mansion? This section is presented as a film script and, like the previous piece, is illustrated with gorgeous watercolour paintings from artist Rose Deniz.
Non-Fiction, the third and final section of American Monsters, is a collection of moving and insightful essays. This includes a series of authoritative feminist analyses of horror, ethnography and rave culture. The heart of this section however is The Night The Sky Opened Up, a heart-rending account of the night when the author’s best friend was executed in front of her by a crazed gang-member.
Packed with horror homages both oblique and obvious, American Monsters is a book for adventurous readers – ones who are not scared of non-traditional narratives, of evil smog-goddesses, or of women turning the tables.
Available on Amazon, and all other online retailers.