Let's Cut Up Dad! and Other Stories of Transgressive Madness

Name: Let's Cut Up Dad! and Other Stories of Transgressive Madness
Price: 17.00 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9798989573141

✍️ Douglas Ford

Reader Score

4.4

(1 review)

$17.00

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A collection of dark tales by Douglas Ford exploring family horror and transgressive themes.

This anthology examines the breakdown of domestic safety through supernatural lenses. Ford uses the figure of the father as a focal point for horror, whether through literal dissection or metaphorical fear. The stories draw on gothic traditions but update them with modern anxieties about identity and consumption. The Key West narrative suggests themes of renewal gone wrong, while the babysitter story critiques societal panic. Ford’s style is direct and unflinching, avoiding sentimentality in favor of shock. The collection does not offer redemption or moral lessons. It presents scenarios where the familiar becomes alien and threatening. Readers interested in the mechanics of fear will find value here. The work aligns with contemporary transgressive fiction that challenges social norms regarding family and death.

Key Themes

father experimentation Satanic Panic Key West resurrection

Literary Context

The book sits within the tradition of transgressive horror fiction, drawing on gothic and supernatural elements to critique modern anxieties. Ford’s work engages with cultural fears surrounding family structures and societal panic, updating classic horror tropes for a contemporary audience seeking visceral and unsettling narratives.

Difficulty

● Easy

Recommended For Fans Of

Tim Waggoner · Cindy O'Quinn · Transgressive Horror Anthologies

🧠

Psychological Horror

🏛 Vissaria County Dispatches 📅 2026 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9798989573141

📝 Description: Let's Cut Up Dad! and Other Stories of Transgressive Madness

This collection of transgressive stories features a girl experimenting on her father's corpse and other tales of supernatural horror. The volume opens with a narrative where a young girl conducts experiments on her father’s decaying body, setting a tone of visceral discomfort. Subsequent stories shift locations and premises, such as a resurrection attempt in Key West that results in an unexpected culinary outcome. Another entry examines the concept of Satanic Panic through the lens of a babysitter’s evening, twisting familiar cultural fears into something new. Ford is recognized by Tim Waggoner as a sinister surgeon wielding a night black scalpel, a metaphor that reflects the precise and cutting nature of his prose. The collection maintains a fiery pace from its opening moments, delivering shock value without losing narrative cohesion. Cindy O'Quinn, a Bram Stoker Award winning author, praises the work for its consistent intensity. This book suits readers who appreciate dark humor and body horror within the gothic tradition. It may not appeal to those seeking traditional ghost stories or lighthearted supernatural fiction. The structure relies on short, impactful narratives rather than a continuous plot, allowing each story to stand as a distinct exploration of madness and familial breakdown.

💎 Our verdict on Let's Cut Up Dad! and Other Stories of Transgressive Madness

“

🩸

Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Douglas Ford delivers a collection of transgressive tales exploring the grotesque intersection of family dynamics and supernatural horror. The volume maintains a fiery pace, delivering shock value while preserving narrative cohesion through short, impactful stories. Ford acts as a precise surgeon, wielding his prose with cutting intensity to dissect domestic safety. The work critiques societal fears, such as Satanic Panic, by twisting familiar cultural tropes into new horrors. It is ideal for readers seeking visceral discomfort and dark humor without traditional ghost story elements or lighthearted supernatural fiction. Ford’s unflinching approach ensures consistent intensity throughout, making it a compelling choice for fans of contemporary transgressive horror who appreciate the mechanics of fear.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers interested in the mechanics of fear will find value here, particularly those who appreciate dark humor and body horror within the gothic tradition. The collection examines the breakdown of domestic safety through supernatural lenses, using the father figure as a focal point for horror. Ford’s style is direct and unflinching, avoiding sentimentality in favor of shock. The anthology presents scenarios where the familiar becomes alien and threatening, offering distinct explorations of madness and familial breakdown rather than continuous plots. It suits those who enjoy visceral discomfort and societal panic critiques without seeking redemption or moral lessons.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Douglas Ford delivers a collection of transgressive tales exploring the grotesque intersection of family dynamics and supernatural horror. The volume maintains a fiery pace, delivering shock value while preserving narrative cohesion through short, impactful stories. Ford acts as a precise surgeon, wielding his prose with cutting intensity to dissect domestic safety. The work critiques societal fears, such as Satanic Panic, by twisting familiar cultural tropes into new horrors. It is ideal for readers seeking visceral discomfort and dark humor without traditional ghost story elements or lighthearted supernatural fiction. Ford’s unflinching approach ensures consistent intensity throughout, making it a compelling choice for fans of contemporary transgressive horror who appreciate the mechanics of fear.