Born Bad (1994)

I know, I always say I will never read another Vachss book and then I always do. His endings always infuriate me. All that tension, all that tight writing, all that intense noir and it ends with a big bang of nothing. I hate it and yet I keep reading.

But this time, I am so happy to say, Vachss gets almost everything right. The stories sickening, upsetting, morally depraved and just plain nasty, and every one of them has a decent ending, the sort of ending that means you don't regret having read it.

This is an excellent collection that mines all the veins Vachss is so famous for, and in a collection of 46 stories, only two or three are clunkers. That's a pretty good ratio, if you ask me.

Never mind this borderline giddy reaction - I'm just glad that my decision to keep reading Vachss has finally been vindicated.

Also less Asian fetishization. So there's that. ( )

A collection in the main of quite short stories, excerpt for those concerning the mercenary Cross. Mostly crime, but a few science fiction stories, a couple of sport, and certainly you could call many of them horror if you prefer. Hence the Stoker award nomination.

At 3.62, very high quality.

Born Bad : A flash of white - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Alibi - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Anytime I want - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Born bad - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Cain - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Cough - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Crime partner - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Bandit - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Cripple - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Mad dog - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Statute of limitations - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Crossfire - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Value received - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Head case - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Kidnap - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Date rape - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Dead game - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Dialogue - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Drive-by - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Dumping ground - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Exit - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Family resemblance - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Hostage - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : It's a hard world - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Joyride - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Lynch law - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Man to man - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Plan B - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Placebo - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Rules of the road - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Step on a crack - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Stone magic - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : The promise - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : The unwritten law - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Treatment - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Bum's rush - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Tunnel of love - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Bad babies - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Into the light - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Warrior - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : White alligator - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Witch hunt - Andrew Vachss
Born Bad : Working roots - Andrew Vachss

Stalker toothed.

3.5 out of 5

Buying in the revenge game.

3.5 out of 5

Plastic coated abuse finishing.

3.5 out of 5

I'm just evil, ask my brother.

3.5 out of 5

Bloody dogbeaters, very.

4 out of 5

Silent stall shooter.

3 out of 5

Easy Eddie crazy.

3.5 out of 5

Getting a dog, hard way.

3.5 out of 5

'A mind isn't always a terrible thing to waste.'

4 out of 5

Well trained feeders.

3.5 out of 5

Cross hired to remove a rapist father.

4 out of 5

One stalker removal setup for Cross.

4 out of 5

Terminal divorce first cab.

3.5 out of 5

Stalker party game split for Cross.

4.5 out of 5

Princess is snatched to get Cross to do a job and get a chip. Table turning time, with kestrel.

4.5 out of 5

Sister, dad, bullet.

3.5 out of 5

Last dogfight.

3.5 out of 5

I don't kill call girls, just whores. Ok, maybe one waitress by mistake.

3.5 out of 5

Diss shottied.

3 out of 5

Dog food pack.

4 out of 5

Pool payoff putout pain.

3.5 out of 5

Was just going to kill one, but now seeing you all are, lot sounds good.

3.5 out of 5

Make a sniper a hostage negotiator, gonna shoot someone eventually.

4 out of 5

I think I'll let you have my spot in it.

3.5 out of 5

But bad stack's a drag.

3.5 out of 5

Sucked and hooked.

3.5 out of 5

Queer service joint limited.

3 out of 5

Not lucky for Penny, but punt's over.

3.5 out of 5

I know how to fix things, including doberman puppies and monsters machines.

3.5 out of 5

Inside car sheep shooting.

3.5 out of 5

Basher showdown.

3.5 out of 5

Cross deals out a dose of some old medicine.

4 out of 5

Don't like them laughing.

3 out of 5

Million dollar cheating time setup.

4 out of 5

Final variety, well paid.

4 out of 5

Us targets in the game now.

3.5 out of 5

Charter Rulers.

3.5 out of 5

Part credit rules, new Family.

4 out of 5

Things change Outside, no more buying kid bits.

3.5 out of 5

Golden boy fighter.

3.5 out of 5

Big white bears, too.

4 out of 5

Mum's a monster, now me, too.

3.5 out of 5

Walking for that junk.

3 out of 5

4.5 out of 5

http://notfreesf.blogspot.com/2009/05/born-bad-andrew-vachss_08.html ( )

I'm just evil, ask my brother.

http://notfreesf.blogspot.com/2009/05/born-bad-andrew-vachss.html ( )