(when CHIM+HER was a separate book, Diana wrote this Midwest Book Review)

There are some things we are not supposed to bring up in conversation, much less write a story about. Says who? Apparently I am not the only one who asks that question with vehement repulsion at the limits placed upon my words. Chim+Her snickers at the taboos and greets them head on.

Who else but one of my favorite modern authors, Hertzan Chimera could take this on? Answer Hertzan and a select group of eight extremely talented and extremely passionate female writers: Charlee Jacobs, Alex Severin, Amy Grech, Destiny West, Brutal Dreamer, Dawn Andrew, Queenie Tirone and Christina Sng.

People constantly claim that they don't want to hear about certain things however when we have news stories, which contain these topics, it is aired over and again. More often than not with those who claim opposition glued to the television. Why is that? Quite simple, each and every person has a darker side. A side that they often try to repress but that cannot be totally shut out. This is made very clear by the phenomenon known as rubbernecking.

That said, when you are ready to face life's more shunned taboos, Chim+Her will gladly throw them in your face, in a way that is not only disturbing but highly entertaining, and in my opinion much more healthy than viewing the news, as these stories deal with fiction and no humans were harmed for your entertainment pleasure.

Kudos to all the collaborators for laying it on the table as only a woman (and Hertzan) could do.

THE BEST OF HIM+CHIM+HER
Reviewed by Kyle Kucek

When I read the first page of THE BEST OF HIM+CHIM+HER, I thought, "Damn okay, another book by Hertzan Chimera." But to tell the truth, I was very excited to read it. And boy, is it a fine treat.

THE BEST OF HIM+CHIM+HER (with a title that is damn exhausting for me to write every paragraph of this review) collects fifteen collaborations and ten tricephallics from the previous collections CHIM+HER AND CHIM+HER, published by Cyberpulp Books. The authors from the 15 collaborations include Charlee Jacob, Destiny West, Brutal Dreamer, Vincent Sakowski, D.F. Lewis, John Edward Lawson, and a big handful of other authors from both genders.

The stories range from beautifully grotesque and sexy to just plain weird. Some of my favorites include "Unknown; They Are My Children", "Crimson Screams", and "Spawn of the Cancer Womb". As you can tell by the titles, these are stories that are not for the weak of heart and feature a lot of extreme sex and violence. Although explicit, the writing here is so well-written it's almost poetic, and the collaborative effort is almost unseen--it is hard to tell when Chimera is writing and when he stops for his collaborator to continue. The tricephallics (three-way stories) are also a great read, and just as well-written as the two-author collaborations.

If you're looking for something very different, definitely pick this book up. It is very out of the ordinary, as are the various descriptions in this novel. (To include them in this review would probably get this review banned because of the graphic nature of some of the most powerful details.) However I wouldn't recommend this if you have a weak stomach or if you like your fiction very standard and mainstream.

Mike Philbin is quite the writer, and I can't wait to read what else he has released.

And did I mention he has some of the craziest yet best cover art I've come across in a long time?