Anomalous Appetites
An anthology of the best speculative poetry and art for 2008 from around the world

Three of my poems are included in this anthology.

Anomalous Appetites
An anthology of the best speculative poetry and art for 2008 from around the world
Editor: John Irvine
Art editor: Dave Freeman
Publisher: Lulu
Date of Publication: March 2009
ISBN: 978-1-4092-5973-2
Review by: Sharon M. White; April 2009

Anomalous Appetites. Indeed. What can I tell you about this anthology? I can tell you that my copy arrived in immaculate condition. It is a paperback (8.5" X 11"). Anomalous Appetites is a perfect size to leave on the coffee table for guests but also fits easily on the bookshelf. The cover art begs to be looked upon and studied by wandering eyes and the book to be held and opened. It's just one of those books that you have to pick up and flip through.

Now, on to the work between the covers. There are eighty poems by nineteen different contributors and each poem is illustrated, brought to life by the minds and pens of ten different artists. The contributors are from all around the world. Varied cultures, beliefs, techniques and styles come together, creating an amalgamation of art and the written word like I've never seen. Some of the contributors are rather well known throughout the speculative publishing world while others are not yet known as well, but all are very talented. No matter what type of poetry you prefer, I think you'll find suitable reading here. This is not the poetry you studied in school and, likewise, I doubt it is of the variety you pulled from your grandmother's shelf. And I promise that none of the poetry is written to be vague and difficult to decipher and understand. That is not to imply that the work is shallow, either. Quite the opposite, actually.

In my opinion, I think you will enjoy Anomalous Appetites even if you are not a big fan of poetry. If you enjoy tales of fantasy, science fiction and/or horror, then you will be entertained--and maybe frightened. I immerse myself in imagined worlds of darkness every day and still found a few of the poems unsettling. I have found new poets and artists to admire in Anomalous Appetites. Here is the link to preview AA. Look through the Table of Contents--if you are a genre fan, you will undoubtedly come across names you recognize. If you would like to see a few samples of the work in Anomalous Appetites, go to this link: www.cooldragon.co.nz You will need to scroll down and click on the link under the AA front cover image.

Anomalous Appetites is a book you will read repeatedly. I devoured the entire book in one ninety-minute session and have been back to pick and choose from my favorites several times since. I highly recommend this anthology to all who have the least interest in art and/or poetry as it is a delight to the senses, a feast of ideas and an eat-all-you-can banquet of strange horrors. So go on, indulge in your own Anomalous Appetites, and get your copy today.