Writer Spotlight: Josh Pearce
Welcome to the 16th installment of Writer Spotlight. This week’s focus is Josh Pearce. I’ve reviewed 14 of Pearce’s pieces, all of them individually on Inkfoundry’s “Get WYSR” feed. (In case you didn’t know, Inkfoundry is a wonderful and free resource that aggregates short fiction and poetry pieces!)
Recurring Themes:
Surrealism / Dreamlike Sequences
Cyberpunk & Western Mixes
Body Horror / Parasites
Giant Bugs
Sexual Content
Unique Communication Methods!
Day One - April 16
“A Clockwork Gun” | WYSR Review
Lenore and her sister, living in her chest, acquire a gun that forces them to kill its targets.
A chess game played with elements from the periodic table and more.
The Pairing: (Spoilers)
These two stories both have characters that utilize elements of science to change their bodies; Steelbeard when he ‘wirewalks,’ and in the chess game, Maxwell’s bones are transmuted into something else. You could argue the entire chess game displays this concept, as the pieces themselves are transmuted as well. Both also have SO MUCH world building crammed into a short story length that I feel I have immersed myself into these worlds entirely. Both of these stories also have dreamlike elements where the characters move through the story in stranger and surrealistic ways.
Individually:
"A Clockwork Gun” is an uncanny and unsettling story (I wouldn’t expect anything less from Bourbon Penn!) set in a post-apocalyptic landscape full of physiological mods, cynicism, and radiation strangeness. The gun itself gave me weird Western /steampunk vibes, along with the jellyfish girls.
"Atomic Chess” is an intelligence war symbolized in a chess game. This one had more of a scientific element where the characters are literally playing with the periodic table. It reminded me of an anime battle where one character is always one step ahead of the other; Shakhski is obviously playing with Maxwell’s mind in another sense.
Day Two - April 17
3. “Someday Someone’s Gonna Steal Your Carbon” | WYSR Review
Are there any downsides to a world where anyone can grow a clone of themselves like a pregnancy?
4. “Microcosmus of Mystery” | WYSR Review
An archaeologist is sent to find an artifact rumored to change reality.
The Pairing: (Spoilers)
These two stories are pretty different!
Individually:
“Someday Someone’s Gonna Steal Your Carbon” is about the possibility of being pregnant with your own clone. It poses an interesting ethical and hypothetical question of where self-harm starts with clones, and the importance of caring for the body you have. It also reminded me a little of Lenore’s sister in “Clockwork Gun,” as it employs body horror. I also enjoyed the representation of changing one’s gender in a science fiction world.
“Microcosmus of Mystery” is an adventure story that parodies Indiana Jones in hilarious ways. It has a surrealistic vibe that definitely reminds me of both “Clockwork Gun” and “Atomic Chess” in the way the protagonist moves through the story; in media res, and/or with scenes that change drastically like a dream sequence. Microcosmus also has specific elements like communication through strange devices like seashells, which reminded me of both “Clockwork Gun” and “Atomic Chess” like when Steelbeard communicates through the wires and when the players of the chess game communicate through the chess moves. Microcosmus also has a scientific/mathematical protagonist similar to many of the characters in “Atomic Chess.”
Day Three - April 18
5. “Play Devil” | WYSR Review
It’s Jessie’s turn to play the Devil this week. Except then, more devils show up.
6. “Deus Ex Parasitus” | WYSR Review
Dexter is forced into a heist that involves hacking someone’s brain with modded parasites.
The Pairing: (Spoilers)
These two stories both have themes about forcing someone to do something they don’t want to do/lack of autonomy, and about layers of deception. In “Play Devil,” Jessie wears a devil mask and the others around her are deceived into believing that they have no autonomy. In “Deus” Dexter pretends to have no autonomy, when he actually has had an escape plan this whole time. This reminded me of “Clockwork Gun” and “Atomic Chess,” interestingly, as both of those also have themes of lack of autonomy that I didn’t think about before, or about being manipulated by others. Both these stories also have body horror, joining “Clockwork Gun” and “Steal Your Carbon.”
Individually:
“Play Devil” has a theme about hypocrisy in church, as well as how fake morality can cover up and even enable suffering and abuse in some places. I definitely vibed with this story. There was also a devil in “Clockwork Gun.”
“Deus Ex Parasitus” reminded me of “Clockwork Gun,” “Atomic Chess,” and “Steal Your Carbon” in that all of these stories are futuristic cyberpunk/neon dystopias. Also, Pearce’s niche sub theme about communication using strange elements shows up here, with the perfume that Dexter smells that allows him to know the woman’s name and title.
Day Four - April 19
7. “Unnamed Government Agency” | WYSR Review
Three government agents investigates a missing child case.
8. “Philemaphobia” | WYSR Review
Webs keep growing in Amanda’s mouth, and her parents don’t know how to help her.
The Pairing: (Spoilers)
These two stories are both horror, but seem pretty dissimilar otherwise.
Individually:
“Unnamed Government Agency” is a horror story in a Midwest setting. It seems to have a time loop or time warp, and agents with code names and magical powers. This reminded me of “Parasitus” because of the agents and strange abilities. Interestingly, there might also be the theme about control/lack of autonomy in this one, considering the Fear in this one as the antagonist that seems to force people to either hallucinate, or their fear manifests in front of them. This one also for sure has dreamlike sequences as in “Microcosmus,” “Atomic Chess,” and “Clockwork Gun.” Once again, there’s that sub theme of communication using strange methods, especially with the brain-stethoscope that can tap into peoples’ thoughts. Love it!
“Philemaphobia” had spider-body-horror, which I’ve noted before seems to be blooming into its own subgenre! This one is also a bildungsroman, a coming of age story where a girl has her first kiss. It reminded me of “Parasitus,” “Clockwork Gun,” and “Steal Your Carbon” in that something is growing inside someone else.
Day Five - April 20
9. “Polydactyl” | WYSR Review
When hands fractal into mouths and vice-versa, and they want to kiss you.
10. “Selections from the Wolfmonth Catalog of the Fairyland Regional Fürni Store” | WYSR Review
The narrator buys magical furniture to help try and assuage their grief and loneliness.
The Pairing: (Spoilers)
These two stories seemed pretty different to me.
Individually:
“Polydactyl” Seems to have a child POV, which definitely echoes “Philemaphobia” in the sense of a young girl experiencing sexual feelings, though this story has more sexual content and the Polydactyl is an abusive/coercive stalker (content warning!!) This makes me think of the lack of autonomy theme I’ve noticed before. Sexual content also shows up briefly in “Clockwork Gun,” “Steal Your Carbon,” and “Play Devil.” This story seemed to be a straight horror, reminding me of “Play Devil,” “Unnamed,” and “Philemaphobia.”
“Selections from the Wolfmonth Catalog of the Fairyland Regional Fürni Store” Loved all the personalities in this one. Anyone who reads these reviews regularly knows I love me some non-human characters! This kind of reminded me of The Brave Little Toaster but for adults.
Day Six - April 21
11. “Sensorium” | WYSR Review
Amelia visits a different world, too dangerous for the people she loves.
12. “Such Were the Faces of the Living Creatures” | WYSR Review
Cy searches for a way to cure his child’s disease in this post-apocalyptic weird Western.
The Pairing: (Spoilers)
These two stories both had giant bugs in them! And both have the surreal dreamlike sequences that I’ve noticed in many of Pearce’s other stories.
Individually:
“Sensorium” is another story with a child’s POV. This one reminded me of “Philemaphobia” in that Amelia’s experiences are shrouded in her own belief, and others around her can’t access what she sees or feels unless they really try. It is definitely a dark fantasy/horror in the lengths to which Amelia goes to visit and experience the Sensorium.
“Such Were the Faces of the Living Creatures” might be set in the same world as “Clockwork Gun” since I noticed the reference Jenny Sunflowerseed! It has many of “Clockwork Gun”’s elements, too; the weird Western setting, the post-apocalypse cynicism, radiation strangeness, and the concept of coming back to life (the bugs at the end, along with all the gods that Lenore kills with the gun.) I’m unsure, but it seems that Cy might be trans, in which case, this joins “Steal Your Carbon” for trans representation.
Day Seven - April 22
13. “A Perfect Day for Babelfish” | WYSR Review
When traveling, trading tongues can be very helpful to learn the local language.
14. “Hivemind’s Royal Jelly” | WYSR Review
Interrogating a hive mind doesn’t go very well.
The Pairing: (Spoilers)
Both of these stories are much shorter than Pearce’s other pieces that I’ve read. They also both have themes of parasites or bugs living inside someone, joining “Sensorium” and “Such Were the Faces.” Also, they both possess the niche theme I’ve noticed of communication with strange methods!
Individually:
“A Perfect Day for Babelfish” This story has parasites, echoing “Parasitus” and the other stories where things grow inside of characters: “Clockwork Gun,” “Steal Your Carbon,” and “Philemaphobia.” It also has more sexual content, reminding me of “Polydactyl” but not the abusive theme, just that it has more of a main theme.
“Hivemind’s Royal Jelly” Another hallmark I’ve noticed with Pearce’s style is that often, he presents a strange and surreal setting, character, or novum, and then explains it using a scientific reasoning. I remember this vividly with “Sensorium,” as that story was set solidly in dark fantasy until it crossed into sci-fi for a little bit. I love hybrid genres. Now that I’m pondering, I remember this happened with “Atomic Chess” as well, in that the prose he used felt fantasy-esque, though the genre and exposition was decidedly more sci-fi. And in “All that to say is that “Royal Jelly” does this too, in that there is a little section where the wax-man explains the science behind the hives.
Emmie’s Personal Favorite: “Play Devil”
Summary!
If I were to summarize Pearce’s style in one sentence, I would say he uses hybrid genres, surrealism, and strangeness/weirdness while employing elements like giant bugs, odd communication methods, and body horror with parasites.
Interview Questions
What are the themes you tend to return to the most in your work overall? Why do think that is?
Pearce: BUGS! At least, superficially. I enjoy gardens and forests, and you can't go into either without spending a lot of time observing tiny alien life. My stories aren't really about bugs, they're just stories with bugs in them, much like how many science fiction stories are not really about spaceships, they are stories with spaceships in them. My other recurring theme is fighting and/or killing God(s), where "god" is a stand-in for unquestioned and unquestionable authority. By definition, God is always punching down, so any action taken against them is morally imperative.
2. What is one of the characters in your short stories/flash pieces that you relate to the most, and why?
Pearce: I enjoy body horror, but I don't enjoy medical dramas — even though they're basically body horror, they're destructive body horror, and I much prefer transformative body horror. I have characters who undergo radical body modification, mutations, divine (or demonic) transfiguration, parasitic infestation, etc. So I relate to them coming to grips with their new bodies and realizing that they cannot hold onto their former shells. I hit middle age already, this is all just a metaphor for aging and coming to grips with the fact that your body isn't what it once was, and it never will be.
3. What short fiction author do you look up to? Why?
Pearce: Livia Llewellyn is one of my all-time favorites. It's a lot of erotic horror in really gorgeous language. There are links to some of her stories on her website. Check them out! Jorge Luis Borges and Philip K. Dick are two others I really enjoy, and I especially admire how they both cram so much mind-twisting concept into such a short space.
4. Anything else you’d like to say about your work?
Pearce: Around this time last year I declared a "Season of the Weird" — in the span of two or three months I had "Someday Someone's Gonna Steal Your Carbon," "Microcosmus of Mystery," "A Clockwork Gun," and an extremely strange epic poem all published in a row. The world clearly wasn't (still isn't... probably never has been?) following any rules, so I decided I wasn't going to, either, in terms of style, structure, and syntax. This is only partially a reaction to the political climate. If you look at what the Dadaists, Surrealists, and Modernists were reacting to in their time, we're kind of in the same place. The Romantic view of the past has revealed itself to be an illusion, a fantasy. Sometimes you have to take stock of what's happening right now, and right now it's all chaos. I think that as a genre of imagination, the SF/F/H community is failing to truly push the boundaries of what is possible either conceptually or aesthetically. So make it more weird!
5. Do you have any piece, listed here or otherwise, that you would like to promote?
Pearce: That epic poem is called "Witches in Strange Mountain Halls." It's not available online, but you can read it in The Skull & Laurel #3, available for purchase here. The editors called it "a weird epic poem that is too busy kicking ass to concern itself with genre boundaries or traditional punctuation." I call it my "gnostic dungeon crawler prose poem."