Ridiculous Fiction

The Ridiculous Fiction genre was invented by Chris Auman (Reglar Wiglar zine) to justify the abject silliness of the short stories he wrote in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The first issue contains the story “Old Joe” and the comic “The Sheridan Park Massacre.”

“Old Joe” is a spoof of the classic Man versus Nature literary theme. Will Bill Billson become a man after a successful hunt?

“The Sheridan Park Massacre” tells the tale of one rage-filled evening. The horror!

But Wait, There’s More

If this zine of funny short fiction piques your interest, you’ll want to also check out Ridiculous Fiction #2, also available from RoosterCow Press! In this second issue, Dinky Dellabella does his laundry, a young God named Rick grows frustrated with his planetary creation, and a deadly fungus takes on the universe.

Specs.

4.1″ x 5.8″, 24 pages, grayscale throughout, full-color glossy cover.

Excerpt from Ridiculous Fiction #1

I slowly crept up to the spot where Old Joe sat, making sure to keep out of his sight. I slithered and slid my way along the dusty attic floor and gradually, after what seemed like five minutes, I was within two feet of him. Glancing down at my watch — it had only taken three minutes, but time has no meaning in the world of the hunter and the hunted, the baiter and the baited, the prey and the guy who stalks the prey, Old Joe and me.

I could hear Old Joe buzzing happily as he gorged himself on the pickle sugar that I had given him, almost as a gift. Now I was about to give him another gift, the gift of death. But why wasn’t Old Joe moving? Why weren’t his insectual instincts telling him to move his bug ass? I raised my swatter into the air not having time to consider such questions. Later, I would know the answer.