EDITOR'S NOTE: Yesterday, we posted an exclusive excerpt from Michael A. Arnzen's new novella, THE BITCHFIGHT. Today, the review; and tomorrow, an interview with Arnzen conducted by Jeff Strand.

Roy Robbins and his crew at Bad Moon Books, who have recently brought us their first limited edition novel in the brilliant JOHNNY GRUESOME and the soon-to-be-released, and also fantastic Steve Vernon Novella PLAGUE MONKEY SPAM (both of which I've had the pleasure of reviewing for FearZone), are most definitely on a roll. Their latest project is the limited edition Novelette, THE BITCHFIGHT, by the talented Michael A. Arnzen.

As is normal for Bad Moon Books, the book is going to be available in two Limited editions, both a numbered softcover edition of two hundred and a leather-bound lettered hardcover edition of twenty-six. Both editions include wonderful artwork by artist Caroline O'Neal, an Introduction by noted author Brian Hodge, and an Afterword entitled "The Hair Of The Dog" by author Michael A. Arnzen. Both Michael A. Arnzen and Brian Hodge will be signing all copies of each edition. As one is coming to expect of these Bad Moon Books limited editions, the design and layout of the book is highly professional and handsome - kudos to the very talented Brian Cartwright. The materials and artwork utilized are top notch, especially when considering the very reasonable price range. Perhaps most importantly, the contents themselves, the story and accompanying writings, are all highly entertaining and well worth purchasing, and display a great deal of discernment on the part of the selection/editorial team.

As for THE BITCHFIGHT ... Meet "Doc." Doc is a Veterinarian. A Vet with a "little" problem. A gambling problem. His problem is he just loves to gamble, but is very very bad at it. As a result, Doc now owes a lot of money to the local Mob, money he cannot possibly repay. After being paid a visit by the infamous Furioso Brothers, Johnny and Tommy, and their brass knuckles, Doc agrees to do a favor for them, and in so doing, save his own skin. All he has to do is go to the home of the brothers' friend and associate, Guido Vinelli, and provide some unspecified Veterinary medical treatment for Mr. Vinelli's prize dog. Although Doc is relieved and thinks he is going to get out of his predicament quickly and relatively painlessly, his appearance at the Vinelli residence actually marks the start of a terrifying and deadly life-changing encounter for the hapless Veterinarian.

When Doc is introduced to his patient, he is rather disturbed to find that he is being required to treat Guido Vinelli's young daughter, Alonza. However, after reluctantly treating the young child's minor skin infection, Doc's distress grows by magnitudes when he learns that the true purpose of his presence is to act as "ring doctor" for Alonza, who has disturbingly been trained to act like a dog rather than a human. Indeed, Alonza has a "fight" scheduled that very evening against another young girl similarly trained and conditioned, known as "The Pink Pincher." With teeth filed to razor points, and each little girl equipped with costumes studded with deadly blades and other pain and damage inflicting accoutrements, these little girls engage in a possibly deadly fight, well attended by a variety of gamblers and other more unseemly types.

Author Arnzen has taken the recent revelations concerning the vicious dog fighting and abuse of animals that caused such problems for former NFL quarterback Michael Vick, among others, and combined this with the rising tide of child abuse horrors being revealed in the news on an almost daily basis, and has crafted a minor masterpiece. True congratulations and admiration are due to Michael A. Arnzen who in THE BITCHFIGHT has crafted a brilliant and convincingly disturbing "real" tale of what easily "might be." The author carefully treads the line between examination and exploitation, and presents the horrifying and outlandish in a way that is utterly credible and believable. Yes, there is much more to this little novelette than one might initially suspect. Arnzen manages to compellingly convey the awfulness of both animal and child abuse while entertaining rather than preaching to the story's audience. There are further clever plot twists that ratchet up the terror and tension, and keep the reader both unbalanced and guessing just what will happen next and keeping the reader thoroughly engrossed within the story at all times. Author Arnzen tackles a number of distressing genuine contemporary social problems within a horror/dark fantasy framework, and is able to both cogently observe/comment and give the reader cause to reflect, without in the least detracting from an enormously entertaining modern tale of terror perhaps destined to become a future classic.

THE BITCHFIGHT is a tiny tour-de-force and receives my highest recommendation. This is a book you will not want to miss.