Leave it to Ray Garton to conjure up a villain whose sole purpose is to widen his victim’s urethra, like Freddy Krueger with a urology degree.
In SCISSORS, Stuart is haunted by the memory of a childhood incident in which that very surgical procedure was done to him by one Dr. Furgeson. However, at the urging of Stuart’s mean-as-fire mother, it was not performed under the most ideal of conditions, beginning with a hypodermic needle being plunged painfully into the head of his penis.
Guys, are your legs crossed yet?
Decades later, Stuart sees glimpses of Dr. Furgeson outside his window, and hears the little “snick-snick-snick” of his scissors. But with Stuart’s pee hole having been enlarged already, what on earth could he want? Why, the good doc wants to do the same to Stuart’s son, James.
Still smarting from the dissolution of his parents’ marriage, James is a rebellious sort of kid, but Stuart seeks to protect him and his junk anyway. Sound, um, different? It is, but just wait until you get to the twist. Yes, Stuart goes after Dr. Furgeson in the third act, but it’s how he goes after them that’ll catch you off-guard.
It’s so bizarre that SCISSORS retains somewhat of an edge, even with its faults. There are a few, primarily in too much talk between Stuart’s ex-wife and current girlfriend. Garton holds his cards too close for too long, as well; as a result, you’ll be more than halfway through the novel before you’re quite sure just what it’s all about.
It’s about the strangest thing you’ll read this quarter, that’s what. And its unpredictable nature redeems the deficiencies enough to land on this side of a recommendation. Those who’ve read Garton before know to expect something that revels in outrageousness. Same here, but usually, his mold gells better. —Rod Lott
OTHER BOOKGASM REVIEWS OF THIS AUTHOR:
• BESTIAL by Ray Garton
• LIVE GIRLS by Ray Garton
• THE LOVELIEST DEAD by Ray Garton
• NIGHT LIFE by Ray Garton
• RAVENOUS by Ray Garton
• SERPENT GIRL by Ray Garton
• SLIVERS OF BONE by Ray Garton
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