The Bizarro Starter Kit is exactly what it sounds like: a sampler containing stories from the top authors in the world of Bizarro (for an example, think of films by David Lynch, Takashi Miike and the like). Some have included short stories, others novellas. After a brief introduction to the genre, the collection begins with some stories from D. Harlan Wilson: a dreamlike story of resurrection, a tale of facial hair, and what happens when a teacher decides to encourage his students with hugs, among others. Next is the intriguingly titled The Baby Jesus Butt Plug, a novella by Carlton Mellick III. And yes, there's nothing metaphorical about that title, this interesting story really does focus on a cloned sex toy.

Jeremy Robert Johnson's Extinction Journals focusses on a premise that is potentially sensible: if cockroaches are going to be among the few things that will survive a nuclear blast, then why not create yourself a suit made of them as a survival tactic? The story follows the adventures of this canny survivor and the other survivors he meets -- insects seem to be the optimum choice for a long life... This is something that the star of Kevin L. Donihe's The Greatest Fucking Moment in Sports agrees with. He is a professional cyclist who used to torture bugs, but repented and protects them at any cost -- even to the extent of causing human deaths. We follow the big race, the tricks and tragedies, all the way along to the finishing line with the help of television reporters, ghosts, and a ninja.

Suicide Girls in the Afterlife by Gina Ranalli explores the afterlife during the renovation of heaven and hell -- newcomers are put up in a hotel; the higher the floor, the more privileges you get. Our two suicides are not content with their lot and run amok, gathering a group including Jesus and the Devil as they go. It's a funny entertaining story. Andre Duza's novella is a dark bizarro tale with elements of Who Killed Roger Rabbit? - giving us the real story about cartoons. Next are more short stories by Vincent W. Sakowski which are good examples of the genre: the trials and tribulations of a man with a goldfish bowl for a brain, a stripper who takes off more than her clothes, and a tale of Norse Gods and fashion magazines.

I think my favourite of the collection is Steve Beard's Survivor's dream (although it's a close thing with Suicide Girls above). In a dreamlike story following the progress of "dead girl", she loses body parts, gains special powers, searches for a doctor, gets her wish granted and travels to many places. It's an interesting form of bizarro, charismatically told.

The Starter Kit ends with a novella from John Edward Lawson and some short stories from Bruce Taylor. In Lawson's post-war USA, everyone is either a serial killer or a profiler living in a world of violent death, Humanzees and Poontangutans. Taylor's stories are fun - an alien invasion which results in everything - everything - developing sentience, and the chaos that causes for daily life; philosophical - a chat with a black widow spider; and more bizarre - the infectiousness of word madness and a man walking empty city streets.

The Bizarro Starter Kit is a taster for readers new to the genre, and will certainly lead them on to further reading if they like what they find. I was pleasantly surprised by the range of writing, from the truly bizarre both in style as well as content, to extraordinary topics covered in well written, almost standard, prose. I'd recommend this book. Try a bit of Bizarro, and widen your mind!

The Bizarro Starter Kit is available now, published by Eraserhead Press, ISBN: 1933929006.