First published back in November of 1991, British pulp horror author Guy N Smith’s chapbook ‘The Cadaver’ was a limited edition chapbook which was released through Guy Smith Associates (under the Black Hill Books banner), and limited to just 100 hand numbered copies, each signed by both Guy N Smith and his daughter Tara Paulsson (then Tara Smith) who provided the cover artwork for the as well as the internal art for ‘The Crabs’ Armada’.
The chapbook was published to commemorate the 100th issue of Black Hill Collector – a quarterly catalogue of Horror, Science Fiction, Fantasy and Detective Fiction brought out by Black Hill Books.
The chapbook sported a cover price of £10.50 and contained two short stories; both published here for the first time – ‘The Cadaver’ and ‘The Crabs’ Armada’, the latter being later reprinted under the title ‘Crabs’ Armada’ (i.e. dropping ‘The’ from the title).
Several years following the publication of the chapbook, Smith rewrote the story of ‘The Cadaver’ to become a full-length novel which was published as a hardback through Severn House as ‘The Cadaver’ (2008).
The Cadaver - 7 Pages
Edward Kroll was a recluse. Shunned by everyone because of his dirty, unwashed appearance and his harsh unsociable attitude. The townspeople were aware that he always wore the same clothes – a greasy trilby and dark overcoat. His sunken eyes always watchful. His paper-thin yellowing skin stretched tightly across the bones of his frail frame.
The locals all feared the man. Whispered talk of Kroll cursing those who slighted him, ultimately ending in their sudden death. Even the prospect of walking past his gloomy house frightened the towns folk. They’d avoid walking past his dank home. Taking alternative routes whenever possible.
However, Kroll was a man of strict routine. Every day he’d go to the nearby Grillhouse and portion out his meal. Stretching it out to last his lunch and evening supper. Even the Grillhouse owners despised him. Wished he’d frequent somewhere else. Although they knew they needed his regular trade during the out-of-season months.
And then suddenly Kroll’s daily appearance at the Grillhouse stopped. Day after day the emaciated old man didn’t show for his regular meal. Finally, the local police paid his gloomy home a visit. There they found the reason for the sudden end to his regular meals at the Grillhouse. Edward Kroll was dead! Or at least, the towns folk believed, until just before Christmas, the corpse-like figure of Edward Kroll walked in through the doors of the Grillhouse as if nothing had happened…
This is absolutely one of Smith’s best short stories. A gritty, down beaten short tale involving a recluse, shunned by all the local townspeople, avoided at all costs. It’s a recurring theme within so many of Smith’s tales in some form or other. In fact, as already mentioned in this review, the story itself was later rewritten into a full-length novel, expanding upon the gloomy and altogether depressing life of Edward Kroll.
The short story in this chapbook is very much a condensed version of the aforementioned lengthier version. There are obviously some minor changes, and additional aspects added into the story within ‘The Cadaver’ (2008). However, the short story retains much of the same depressing gloom as the novel, only covering the plot by almost looking back at the negative impact Kroll had on the local community.
Despite its short length, the short story does manage to capture and depict much of Edward Kroll’s instantly dislikeable presence. It’s this aspect which absolutely drives the story and lays down the foundations for the horror-infused twist-ending. Again, in the short this is nowhere near as pronounced and impactful as what is achieved in the full-length novel, but nevertheless it’s delivered with the skill of a master pulp writer.
A spectacular read, and possibly one of Smith’s most accomplished short stories.
The Crabs’ Armada – 5 Pages
Jack Boswell didn’t want to do the dive. However, someone had to go down and clear up the mystery that lay hidden on the seabed. No one would have believed it, but the truth of the matter was there, under the water. It appeared somehow the four-hundred-year-old shipwreck of the Rata Encoronada had travelled almost a mile along the bed of the Giant’s Causeway towards the shore.
The idea that the remains of the vast galleon had moved of its own accord, over such a distance was preposterous. Nevertheless, somehow it had happened. So, they’d sent Boswell down under the depths of the sea, to try to establish how the shipwreck had moved over a mile seemingly on its own accord.
However, when Boswell reached the crumbling galleon, he realised the dive might not have been such a waste of time after all. Amongst the dirt and rotting remains of the vast ship, small artefacts, no doubt from the time of Thomas de Granvela and Don Alonso de Leiva, had been uncovered. Treasures that would be worth a small fortune!
It was enough to persuade him to explore the lower levels of the shipwreck. And as he did so, he noticed two glowing orbs within the darkened shadows below deck. At first, he thought they were rubies, or some other lost treasure. But then he saw the burning hatred within them. Those were no rubies, they were eyes…
Here we have a textbook Guy N Smith short ‘Crabs’ story, crammed with all that escalating suspense we love. Yeah, we all know what’s going to happen here! We’ve got a diver going down into the murky depths of the sea to investigate a four-hundred-year-old shipwreck that appears to have shifted a mile along the seabed. Guess who’s responsible for moving the decaying galleon?! Yep…our ferocious, flesh-hungry crustacean friends.
The outcome’s inevitable. From the outset we know what’s going to happen and are salivating at the prospect of more giant crab carnage. As such, the success of the story pretty much depends upon the escalation of the suspense and then onto the eventual bloodbath that’s sure to follow. Luckily these are two areas for which Smith is a veritable master.
It’s only short, but the suspense that Smith builds as we edge towards the inevitable horror is second to none. By the time the crabs’ eyes are spotted, you’re pretty much clawing at the pages for the mayhem to commence. And then the hapless diver’s desperate attempts at escaping the crabs’ reach are nothing short of classic Guy N Smith. Frantic, desperate, and utterly futile. You’ve just got to love it!
The short story was later published by Ghostwriter Publications in the standalone chapbook ‘Crabs Armada’ (2009), then reprinted in the original ‘Crabs: Unleashed - The Collection’ (2009) chapbook, and later again within the ‘Crabs Omnibus’ (2015) collection.
An audiobook recording of the story was also recorded for the short audio ‘Crabs’ Armada’ (2008), whereby the story was read by ex-radio news reader and narrator, Steve Crozier. The 16 minute and 21 seconds audiobook recording was made available for free download on the Ghostwriter Publications website for a while (before the website was taken down following the demise of GWP). However, a promotional mini-CD version was also handed out at the September 2008 Guy N Smith Fan Convention, which GWP’s Neil Jackson named ‘Crabcon ‘08’.
The chapbook runs for a total of 18 pages.
© DLS Reviews
