Throwback Thursday: Husk by Corey Redekop
Reviewed by Ian Colford
In the genre of speculative fiction, the best authors posit an alternative universe and make it convincing by populating it with believable characters whose struggles mimic or mirror our own. This alternative universe can be familiar, whimsical, or outlandish, or simply a place where strange and far-fetched things happen. This doesn’t really matter. What does matter is that the author’s confident treatment of the material dispels any doubts and draws the reader in. The author knows the events he’s describing can’t happen (the reader knows this too, or else he’s in big trouble), but must never as much as hint to the reader that this is the case. Once the story grabs us, the willing suspension of disbelief kicks in and all is forgiven.
Such is Corey Redekop’s first novel, Husk, (ECW Press, 2012) the story of Sheldon Funk, struggling small time actor turned zombie. Sheldon suffers a messy and ignominious death in a bus washroom, revives on the autopsy table, and escapes into Toronto of the here and now.
“In the blood-spattered pages of Husk, Corey Redekop displays the confidence of a seasoned novelist.”
Sheldon the zombie is unique: unlike others of his kind, he is capable of assessing his actions and controlling his appetites. He knows eating people is wrong, it’s just that sometimes he can’t help himself. As a zombie, Sheldon senses an opportunity and resumes his acting career, landing gigs he would never have had a hope of getting prior to his death. His agent is suitably impressed and pushes him until Sheldon is a headliner. With fame and fortune, however, comes unwanted scrutiny, the consequences of which lead Sheldon down a path he never saw coming.
Redekop’s novel is by turns hilarious and horrific. Certain scenes are, quite literally—when you read the book you’ll see what I mean—stomach turning. Gore and gruesomeness abound. This might all seem like good fun. But there is a serious message lurking at the core of this novel, one regarding life and death and overweening ambition.
In the blood-spattered pages of Husk, Corey Redekop displays the confidence of a seasoned novelist. His concept is bizarre, his vision grotesque, but never once does he stray from his chosen path. The result is memorable and unceasingly entertaining.
About the Author
Corey Redekop has been many things: actor, waiter, disc jockey, cameraman, editor, lawyer (almost), and now the fabled trifecta of publicist/librarian/author. His debut novel, Shelf Monkey, is either a work of insane genius or an intolerable left-wing screed, depending on which review you read. Stunningly handsome, supremely talented, superbly gifted at hyperbole, Corey abides in Fredericton, New Brunswick.
About the Reviewer
Ian Colford has published three novels and two collections of stories. Evidence was published in 2008 by Porcupine’s Quill and won the Margaret and John Savage First Book Award; Evidence was also shortlisted for the Danuta Gleed Literary Award, the Thomas Head Raddall Atlantic Fiction Award and the ReLit Award. The Crimes of Hector Tomás followed in 2012. Published by Freehand Books of Calgary, it won Trade Book of the Year at the 2013 Alberta Book Publishing Awards. Perfect World was published by Freehand in 2016 and shortlisted in the book design category at the 2017 Alberta Book Publishing Awards. In 2019 A Dark House was published by Nimbus Publishing of Halifax and was shortlisted for the Alistair MacLeod Prize in Short Fiction at the Atlantic Book Awards and the Relit Award. In 2022 The Confessions of Joseph Blanchard won the Guernica Prize and was published by Guernica Editions in November 2023. Witness, a sequel to Evidence, will be published in 2026 by Galleon Books of Moncton, NB. He lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia. More info can be found at www.iancolford.com.
Book Details
Publisher : ECW Press
Publication date : Oct. 1 2012
Language : English
Print length : 328 pages
ISBN-10 : 1770410325
ISBN-13 : 978-1770410329
Husk was absolutely my favourite spec fiction/horror novel.