Work is HELL. We may not need the affirmation from Bram Stoker award finalist Michael McCarty, but it's a comfort coming from a fellow horror and science fiction nerd. The cast of workplace demons we encounter in real life is certainly enough to fill volumes. We grind it out alongside them day in and day out. From blood-sucking vampire CEOs to zombified office drones, monsters are everywhere. No environment is safe, not our commute routes, conference rooms, break areas, or cubicles. McCarty has captured the essence of hellish work in his playful, creepy, and occasionally dark collection A Hell of a Job. In McCarty's tales, the work world is a monstrous place where at any given moment a middle manager could go on a rampage and devour his or her underlings.

In his intro, McCarty (Dark Duets, Liquid Diet) recommends the collected stories be read on one’s lunch break. I took that literally. Let me tell you, the book served as a real pick-me-up each day I read from it. Hiding out in my secret break spot, it was a nice refresher after hours of mind-numbing paper pushing. At 126 pages, it's a breeze to read. The brevity of each story allows for a nice little horror snack to break up the monotony of the average work day. If I worked with anyone who actually enjoyed horror, I'd probably give it as a gift at an office party. For now I’ll just have to tuck it away like a little book of horror psalms.

McCarty may have twenty books under his belt, but he's a man who knows the drudgery of the "day job." Making ends meet is difficult enough, but for someone with a burning desire to tell stories, a job is a real drain on energy and creativity. His experiences are no doubt the driving force behind each story (co-written with a cast of special guests). Blue- and white-collar workers alike can find a hook as McCarty spotlights a wide array of job types. From internships to telemarketing, necromancy to alien extermination, McCarty crosses genres like a true master. The kicker is that each tale is populated by monsters, both fantastic, and very, very real.

If I could make some comparisons to McCarty's style, I'd say he's akin to Christopher Moore, if he and Rod Serling had been temping in the same office. Some of their lunchtime conversations might populate A Hell of a Job. Supposing E.C. Comics was contracted to create the company orientation manual, you might find some similarity. McCarty is damn funny, no doubt influenced by his time spent as a stand-up comic. McCarty's collection is mostly playful, but doesn't shy from delivering more serious topics. One story delves into the seedy world of fetish modelling. Another puts an interesting spin on unrequited romance as Lady Death is pursued by one of her future clients. It's a diverse assortment that will appeal to all manners of genre fans. McCarty showcases a wide range of themes and tones that encompass the ups and downs of the gainfully employed, undead or not.

Most importantly, McCarty knows his horror, sci-fi, and comics like the back of his hand. His homages are altered to suit today's corporate controlled environment, but familiar enough that we get his winks and nods to seasoned genre fans. He knows the tropes, but frolics around them with a spring in his step, and a maniac’s eye for the kill. A Hell of a Job is a hell of a read. It's a cornucopia of zombie rock stars, ice cream truck-driving madmen, slacker superheroes, and all manners of creeps and weirdos. McCarty is the guy who secretly stashes back issues of Famous Monsters of Filmland in his desk drawer, and that's just the type of cubicle neighbour I'd love to be near.