I discussed this book and Brain Cheese Buffet over on my site, I Read Odd Books. You can read the entire discussion here: http://ireadoddbooks.com/carnal-surgery-and-brain-cheese-buffet-by-edward-lee/

Review snippet:
But the final reason I just hated this story relates back to bad dialogue. It happens when the cop confronts the hillbilly pervert and notices his book shelf is filled with philosophy books by the likes of Sartre, Kant, Aquinas, Plato, Hegel, and begins a conversation with the redneck-torso-rapist-lobotomizer-killer-black-market-adoption-schemer-self-taught-philosopher:

“…An’ I’se ain’t no psykerpath.”

“What are you then?” Tipps’ question grated like gravel.

Calmly, Mr. Torso went on, “I’se a perveyer of sorts, ya know? A perveyer of objectified human dynamics. Volunteeristic idealism’s what they’se call it, son. See, the abserlute will is an irrational force ‘less ya apply it ta the mechanistics of casual posertivity as a kinda counter-force ta the evil concreteness of neeherlistic doctrine. What I mean, son, is as inderviduals of the self-same unerverse, we’se all subject to the metterphysical duality scape, and we must realize what we’se are as transcendental units of bein an’ then engage ourselves with objectertive acts, son, ta turn the do-dads of our units of bein’ into a functional deliverance of subjecterive posertivity in the ways of The Man Upstairs. No, I ain’t no psykerpath. I’se a vassal an’ perpetcheratorer of Kiergegaardian fundermentals of human purpose.”

Tipps stared as though he’d downed a fifth of Johnny Black in one chug. Holy fucking shit! he thought. Mr. Torso is… a teleologic Christian phenomenalist!

This story was nominated for a fucking Stoker award. And it’s clear why. This is perfect dialogue that maintains tension in a confrontation between the law and a killer and every word rings true and isn’t pompous, pretentious and incomprehensible in turns. As Mr. Oddbooks read this, he asked, “This is a joke, right? Is he having us on or is he just an asshole?”

My answer is that I don’t know. If this is humor, it fails, and if it isn’t humor, it fails. All it is is fail. ( )

Carnal Surgery is a short story collection from hardcore horror author Edward Lee and features 11 tales ranging from the extremely gory to the downright weird with everything inbetween.

Whilst I don't want to give away the contents of the 11 stories as that would only ruin the surprise written within; I can assure anyone reading this that they are all gems and this is a collection that contains no 'filler' stories. It has a superb mixture of tales which has a good mixture of styles with everything from the realistic to the extreme. However if you don't like strong gore in your stories then be warned as you'll find some too much.

If you are a fan of Edward Lee's other works or are looking for a good short story collection then this is for you. ( )