Horror Aficionados discussion

This is the thread for our 2nd Extreme Horror Group Read with Guest Author. For November, we have Robert Essig joining us with his outlandishly awesome tale, Baby Fight! Grab your copy at the link below and please help me welcome to Horror Aficionados… Robert Essig!


https://www.amazon.com/Baby-Fights-Ro...

I have this book! I will participate for November!

Ummmm, how could I not buy a book with this cover!? Excited to read this with everyone. Welcome, Robert!!

I’m very excited about this book. I’ve read a couple of Mr. Essig’s books and have enjoyed them a lot. I’m sure this one will be no exception. Thank you for joining us and welcome, sir.

It is a real pleasure Mr. Essig! I bought a copy of your book a few minutes ago. I will be happy to participate for November. Welcome!

Hello, everyone! I'm excited for the group read of Baby Fights. I'll drop in here regularly to comment and answer any questions you might have. Can't wait to see how you all like the story. It's a weird one!

I've got my copy. Just quickly reading the other group read book first.

Love the cover on this book, it keeps making me chuckle!

Will be starting Baby Fights this week.

Robert, the premise of this is hilarious and horrific all at the same time. Can you tell us a little how this story came to be?

Absolutely! It became clear to me that a lot of readers do not like when the dog dies in a book. Or a cat, or really any animal. I'm indifferent to it, but it's a major trigger for many readers. Thinking about that, I wondered if those same readers would shy away from a book about babies put in a ring and forced to fight to the death. Kind of like dog fights only with infants.

The trick was, how do I make babies aggressive enough to kill one another. You'll will have to read to find out!

Robert, I can agree on your statement about animal killing being triggering, as opposed to human killings.

Does anyone remember the "Faces of Death" series from a long time ago? I remember them being extremely intense when I was a teenager. I was okay with the human deaths, but I couldn't stand the killing of animals.

I'm interested in the answer to your question. My son got pretty aggressive when I took his pacifier away, but I'm not sure he was ready to put someone in their grave.

Robert wrote: "Absolutely! It became clear to me that a lot of readers do not like when the dog dies in a book. Or a cat, or really any animal. I'm indifferent to it, but it's a major trigger for many readers. Th..."...I feel like you are addressing me specifically...LOL -- I can't wait to start this one, Robert. I love having this little bit of insight going in on your thought process in creating this in. Thank you!

I read the first half of the book last night. The writing is definitely very good. I was surprised to see the introduction of some strong emotions between two of the regular members of the small group. I like what I have read so far. Is it edgy? Hell yeah. Also I was intrigued by the bit Robert shared about his writing process. I laughed because he could have been talking to me! No animal is gonna die during my reading time! I may have to ask myself some hard questions before I finish the book. Thank you Robert, and members of the group

megs_bookrack wrote: "Robert wrote: "Absolutely! It became clear to me that a lot of readers do not like when the dog dies in a book. Or a cat, or really any animal. I'm indifferent to it, but it's a major trigger for m..." I'm glad you're enjoying the book! If you have to ask hard questions, then I guess I've done my job.

I appreciate everyone who is participating and reading the book. I discovered that the Goodreads app does not allow me to quote posts and respond directly to them, but I can on my laptop! Again, thank you so much for checking out my twisted little book. You rock!

Good Morning, I finished Baby Fights last night. The book was well written and the extreme horror "out there" and unapologetic. It is a short work but manages to graze the characters of the men who are accountable for making a sick fantasy reality. I liked the finale of the story. Will follow Essig and sure I will be reading his works again.

Finished my other buddy read so starting this today.

I love the picture on the front!!

I think the concept is really great. People (including myself) really don't like it when animals get harmed in books but aren't so fussed about people. So, what about kids?!

Well....I think I would have to acknowledge that I had little difficulty compartmentalizing the violence in the book that was directed in large part to infants. Otherwise I would have been unable to read it.

Pisces51 wrote: "Good Morning, I finished Baby Fights last night. The book was well written and the extreme horror "out there" and unapologetic. It is a short work but manages to graze the characters of the men who..." Thank you for reading the book! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Jennifer wrote: "Finished my other buddy read so starting this today.

I love the picture on the front!!

I think the concept is really great. People (including myself) really don't like it when animals get harmed ..." The art is by Anton Rosovsky. He nailed exactly what I asked for. The audiobook is coming out very soon with a new cover that uses the same image only I manipulated it into looking like a Gerber's Baby Food label. I'm pretty happy with it. lol

I posted my book review of Baby Fights this morning. Thank you Mr. Essig and the club.

I see the baby fight is ON! No hitting below the diaper line... ok?

Pisces51 wrote: "I posted my book review of Baby Fights this morning. Thank you Mr. Essig and the club." Thank you so much for the review! I appreciate it!

A little point of interest. The lead villain is nicknamed Ducky because when he was a child his lips stuck out kind of like a duck bill, thus he was given the appropriate moniker. That nickname came from the son of someone I knew in high school. He was good friends with a roommate I had years ago. One day he had his kids over and called his son Ducky. I didn't have to ask why. It was obvious.

On another note, Ducky saw ghosts in the house that day, but that's a story for another time.

I read the prologue this morning. Very amusing take on "cock fights". I've never been to one (of either version) but I love the absurdity of it all. I have a feeling this is going to be a fun read, which is a relief because the concept is pretty horrifying.
(view spoiler)[ Cock fights a la Robert's version reminds me of the fabled "circle jerks" during my formative years in middle and high school. I had a friend two grades ahead of me who introduced me to all the bad words and meanings. When I was eleven years old, one day a group of us took a hike in the woods, and he introduced us to his own version of circle jerk - - - "Drop your drawers, and show us your dick" - - and a comparison went on. Nobody was old enough to have erections at that age, but he did so of course he won. Your prologue reminded me of that. (hide spoiler)]

Hi everyone ! I just finished this book and wow although not a lot of pages but the scenes and the action made up for it! 5 stars !

Extreme violence including babies or toddlers is the only thing that tends to bother me, but morbid curiosity won out and I HAD to try this one. 😂 I made it halfway through and couldn't finish it because it started getting to me a little too much emotionally, but wow, I loved the writing and now I need to pick up another Essig book ASAP!

I haven't gotten to this yet, but I bought it and definitely plan to soon. Over-committed myself a bit, but it's going to happen. All of these comments, and the comments from Robert, have me more interested than ever!!!

Finished late last night. Even though I knew this was extreme horror and anticipated that it could be disturbing - - - it exceeded my expectations. Now I feel guilty for enjoying it.

Michael wrote: "Finished late last night. Even though I knew this was extreme horror and anticipated that it could be disturbing - - - it exceeded my expectations. Now I feel guilty for enjoying it." This means Robert has succeeded in his endeavor!

Thanks, Robert! Here's my review . . . . .

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I needed a few days after finishing before posting my review. It just didn't seem right to write about this in the middle of a family Thanksgiving get-together with infants, toddlers, and young children in the gathering. I'm glad no one asked about what I was currently reading.

Charlene (Char) wrote: "Hi everyone ! I just finished this book and wow although not a lot of pages but the scenes and the action made up for it! 5 stars !"

I'm so glad you enjoyed it! And thanks for reading my twisted little tale.

destiny ♡ wrote: "Extreme violence including babies or toddlers is the only thing that tends to bother me, but morbid curiosity won out and I HAD to try this one. 😂 I made it halfway through and couldn't finish it b..."

Totally understandable! I'm actually surprised more people haven't given up on the book because of the content (or maybe they have but just haven't mentioned it?) since its release. There was a fine line of getting too goofy but making it surreal enough that it is a palatable story. I'd suggest This Damned House if you want to try another one of my books. Thanks for giving Baby Fights a shot!

megs_bookrack ((will be back in a spell)) wrote: "I haven't gotten to this yet, but I bought it and definitely plan to soon. Over-committed myself a bit, but it's going to happen. All of these comments, and the comments from Robert, have me more i..."

It's all good! When you get to it, I hope you enjoy it.

Michael wrote: "Thanks, Robert! Here's my review . . . . .

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I needed a few days after finishing before posting my review. It just didn't seem right to write about ..."

Thank you for posting your review! I get waiting till after the holiday to get your thoughts out about a book such as Baby Fights. Just imagine when my family is sitting around the dinner table and asks me about what I'm writing! Hahaha!

Robert wrote: "megs_bookrack ((will be back in a spell)) wrote: "I haven't gotten to this yet, but I bought it and definitely plan to soon. Over-committed myself a bit, but it's going to happen. All of these comm..."Thanks so much!!! I'm sure I will :)

Thank you for reading, Tina! I'm glad you enjoyed the book.

And a big thanks to everyone who participated. I've never done a group book read like this. It's something I'd definitely do again. If anyone has questions or comments, I'm here to chat about the book.

And thanks, Ken, for setting this up!

My pleasure, Robert.

Can you tell us where people can follow you and what you have coming down the pike?

I can be found on most major social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Just look for Robert Essig. I also have a newsletter I send out every other week called Confusions, Delusions, and Formidable Impressions: https://robertessig.substack.com?utm_...

I have a short story in Jack Bantry's new anthology Splatterpunk's Basement of Horror and will have a story in Brian Berry's holiday themed anthology coming out on about a week. Baby Fights just got release in audiobook format. I wanted that to happen sooner as an option for this group read, but it took forever for the files to get approved. My next book will be out in February. It's called The Phith Pig and it's about an individual who uses human emotion like drugs. He's not only addicted but needs raw emotion as sustenance. The Filth Pig loves happiness and joy, but nothing can make him quiver in his boots like a good shot of greed.