John Baltisberger is a writer I’ve been hearing about a lot lately. I would often see his name and books mentioned in various splatterpunk communities I’m in, so I’ve been wanting to check out his work for a while.
For the introduction to his work, I chose Abhorrent Siren and Abhorrent Faith. I was expecting to read some fun and gory stuff, which is definitely what I got. But I didn’t expect to read two in-depth and highly detailed books that discussed some of the horrors beyond what we know from the genre.
Both books are related in the sense that they’re in the same series. However, Faith has a slightly different storyline than Siren, though they both are in the same setting. I would recommend reading Siren first, though, so you know the gist of the setting, the monsters, and why they’re ravaging Texas, before reading Faith.
Abhorrent Siren
Imagine living your normal life — going to work, having dinner with the family, watching some TV before bed — the whole wash-rinse-repeat lifestyle. Then one day, monstrous humanoid-axolotl monsters ravage your hometown. You’re forced to escape…or become one of them.
This is the idea that Baltisberger is depicting with Abhorrent Siren. We meet a variety of people — a nurse, a man and his daughter, a team of scientists, etc. who all have two things in common: 1. They have no idea what in the hell is taking over their city, and 2. They need to get the fuck out.
I have to admit, I’m not crazy about bizarro. The fantasy aspect of horror is one that doesn’t interest me as much as the real-life horror (because those stories could actually happen). However, Baltisberger did pique my interest with Abhorrent Siren. The idea that your mundane life may get turned upside-down in an instant is one that terrifies me. Whether that be from war, axolotl monsters, or anything else.
If you think gore and gross details are the crème de la crème of horror, then you have yourself a treat with Abhorrent Siren. From painting vivid pictures of the sirens devouring human flesh to even mentioning mucus and bile, Baltisberger leaves no detail out. You might gag a little but you’ll still be pleased with the grotesqueries.
I also love how Baltisberger gives a human-like quality to these monsters. Toward the middle, he starts writing from their perspectives. Previously, these humans were so complex and discussed every small detail in their lives. But when they change, they become so savage and only focus on survival instincts: find food, defend the territory, and mate.
What’s even more bizarre is when Baltisberger writes from the perspective of the humans turning. One character is walking weirdly. Another is struggling to speak (because they bit their lip or their jaw is now deformed). And they don’t even realize it.
I have to say, I love the cover. The creature is so creepy, yet so captivating. Its horns and blood-soaked jaw are eye-catching, yet you know those very jaws can tear your neck out in an instant.
Abhorrent Siren is more than a monster-gore fest. Baltisberger has a message. He focuses heavily on addiction and the opioid epidemic. Some of the core characters are either struggling with an addiction or they’re trying to treat patients with addictions. Baltisberger discusses drug contamination of the Gulf and how it could impact marine species. Could drug contamination in the water birth a monstrous siren that feeds on human flesh? More than likely, no. But is drug contamination in the water — let alone drug use, in general — a massive problem in our society? Absolutely. And this is what I love about the horror genre. Taking real-life horrors and making them even more horrific.
Abhorrent Faith
Before I discuss the actual book, I want to point out some key highlights that Baltisberger mentioned in the Afterword.
Baltisberger mentions early on that he’s Jewish and he often explores Judaism theology in the realm of horror and science fiction.
He also discusses the toxic people who use religion as a form of control, specifically using fear-mongering as their way to strengthen their grip hold on their followers.
With Abhorrent Faith, Baltisberger decides to write from two perspectives: what those fear-mongering religious figures (specifically in Christianity) would say about the sirens and how that figure would discuss his views with a Rabbi…while they’re stuck in a synagogue hiding from the siren monsters.
While reading this book, I got the impression that Baltisberger is asking us what or who the real enemy is. Is it those who don’t have the same beliefs as you? Or those discriminating against others with different beliefs and forcing them to pray to their God or deity?
If you don’t know anything about this book, Abhorrent Faith is in the same setting as Siren, yet it doesn’t focus on the grotesqueries as Siren did. Instead, it’s a debate about religion and how it impacts the situation with the monstrous sirens.
There is plenty of gore, as Baltisberger will cover later while people in the synagogue are mutating. But this story is mainly about the conversation between a Televangelist and a Rabbi during the apocalypse.
Early in the book, we meet the two main characters: Rabbi Ari Goldberg and Pastor Aidan King.
King is that stereotypical commanding Southern Baptist who spews more evil than good. King brings in one of the sirens, who stays at his side as if it were a dog. The siren attacked several people in the synagogue. While they were dying, all King could do was disrespect Goldberg and discriminate against his guests.
King gives Goldberg an ultimatum: they either have a theological debate or the siren, whose name is Joseph, kills everyone in the synagogue. Goldberg agrees to the debate.
The rest of the book is extremely compelling. Baltisberger digs deep into theology, history, and mythology. There were many arguments that I never heard before and I couldn’t get my nose out of this book.
Of course, King belittled all of Goldberg’s arguments. The reader grows to only hate him more throughout the book (that shouldn’t be a surprise). He’s a character so full of rage. Instead of keeping an open mind to the logical cause of the sirens (drug contamination in the Gulf), he would rather use his siren puppet as a tool to justify his apocalyptic beliefs.
During this time, more people in the synagogue start mutating and killing off others. It’s a horrifying concept — being stuck in one place while your loved ones turn into ravenous axolotl monsters. On top of that, you’re forced to debate theology with a Televangelist. Poor Goldberg.
I highly suggest everyone read Abhorrent Faith. There are some gory details here, but this is a book that makes you think.
Where to Buy Abhorrent Siren and Faith?
I bought both books on Godless. You can also find both books on Amazon. Abhorrent Siren is also available as an audiobook.
Follow John Baltisberger:
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