First published back in 2009, Guy N Smith’s original ‘Crustacean Vengeance’ standalone chapbook was released by Ghostwriter Publications in a black and white, staple and tape bound chapbook.
Copies of this particular chapbook are incredibly scarce, with the number of copies published being unknown. The chapbook may be a promotional only release, sent to reviewers by the publishers at the time.
The ‘Crustacean Vengeance’ story was later republished within ‘Horror Shorts – 1st Collection’ (1999), the original ‘Crabs: Unleashed - The Collection’ (2009) chapbook collection, the second ‘Crabs: Unleashed’ (2009) chapbook collection and the ‘Crabs Omnibus’ (2015) collection under the alternative title of ‘Revenge’.
DLS Synopsis:
The memory of the giant crustacean army’s attack on the millionaire’s paradise of Hayman Island still haunted Kiln. After taking a quick look at the fisherman, most would quickly avert their eyes in fear, nevertheless, Kiln the hunter of Australia’s Barbecue Bay, now feared for what he knew he had to do next.
The crabs had gotten the young girl on the beach at Hayman Island during the last full moon. The girl hadn’t stood a chance against the colossal beasts with their razor-sharp pinchers. Klin had watched as she was ripped apart. Her entrails feasted upon by the vengeful crustaceans.
Now the crabs had returned to Barbecue Bay. They were hungry for human flesh. They wanted a terrible revenge for what Man had done to them. But Kiln was here to stop them. Or he’d die trying…
DLS Review:
Following on from the absolute carnage witnessed in ‘Killer Crabs’ (1978), much-loved gritty anti-hero Klin returns to Hayman Island to finish the crabs off, once and for all.
Smith spends much of the first couple of pages, setting the scene, whilst refreshing our memories with the events that took place in ‘Killer Crabs’ (1978). With that done, it’s straight into the thick of the action, with Klin laying his trap to hopefully wipe out the giant crabs.
Much of what takes place in the short is particularly reminiscent of the finale from ‘Killer Crabs’ (1978). Of course, here Smith has a slight twist up his sleeve. For a quick-fire short story, packed with textbook Guy N Smith suspense, this story delivers the goods. Okay, so it treads much of the already previously-trodden ground, but for a short, sharp stab of crustacean horror, you can’t go wrong at all.
The chapbook runs for a total of 11 pages.
© DLS Reviews
Other ‘Crabs’ instalments:
- ‘Night Of The Crabs’ (1976)
- ‘Killer Crabs’ (1978)
- ‘The Origin Of The Crabs’ (1979)
- ‘Crabs On The Rampage’ (1981)
- ‘Crabs’ Moon’ (1984)
- ‘Crabs: The Human Sacrifice’ (1988)
- ‘Crabs Fury’ (1998) [Graphic Novel]
- ‘Crabs’ Armada’ (1998) [Audiobook CD]
- ‘Crabs: Unleashed - The Collection’ (2009) [Chapbook]
- ‘Crabs: Unleashed’ (2009) [Chapbook]
- ‘Crustacean Vengeance’ (2009) [Chapbook]
- ‘The Decoy’ (2009) [Chapbook]
- ‘Crabs’ Armada’ (2009) [Chapbook]
- ‘Killer Crabs: The Return’ (2012)
- ‘Crabs Omnibus’ (2015)
- ‘The Charnel Caves’ (2019)
