The Best of D.F. Lewis, by D.F. Lewis

When the writer of thousands of stories issues a fifty-four page Best Of you know there won’t be much messing about, and there certainly isn’t here.

This is a very challenging read. Unsurprising, perhaps, since the content matter is often deliberately repulsive. For example, in “The Weirdmonger” the narrator visits Wagger Market:

“Then, to my consternation, I saw clearly what the man was selling from his stall, for he had begun to hang out long (very long) male members … My companion was by now running her fingers down some of the wares, testing the thickness, pliancy and consistency (no knots meant no disease).”

And there’s plenty more where that came from! But in fact it’s not the gore and grossness that makes this a tough read; on the contrary, it’s the subtlety.

These stories are so short, intense and condensed that you cannot drift for a second: each word must be read individually, as if proofreading. You have to be alert to subtle shifts of mood, location, time and consciousness, because everything can change from one word to the next.

Incidentally, this is one of my very few signed books, bought from the author himself. It is number three of the limited edition and even has a few of his corrections marked up in pencil…

Recommended for readers with strong stomachs and alert minds.

The Best of D.F. Lewis, by D.F. Lewis, TAL Publications, chapbook, 54pp.