SHORT STORY REVIEW MAX DACHARNE MIDGET SUBMARINE 2009 PUNK FICTION Portico Press.
The title is drawn from a song by The Swell Maps
Dacharne’s contribution to the anthology is a work of fiction among many thinly disguised essays, but it is told with a sense of such realism that many will see it as tragically all too familiar.
Punks are often stereotyped as being violent thugs, but all too often their carefree image of homemade clothes and anti-consumerist attitudes gets the punks beaten up by skinheads, rednecks and violent moronic thugs.
The story describes the sorry fate of Danny, a quiet unassuming punk, attending an XTC gig.
His troubles come from the show’s promotional flyers and posters announcing the end time for the show to all and sundry. The anti-punks would see such information and wait outside the concert halls to pounce on the unwary, ill-prepared punks as they came out to make their way home.
Danny enjoys the XTC show, though he can’t get the song Midget Submarine out of his head. He leaves the concert happy, gets some chips and heads for his train, unaware of being followed. He is actually on the train when his attackers pounce.
Initially, the assault is described casually almost in amusing terms as the bullies steal his chips, and then smear them over him – humiliating, embarrassing – yes – then the savage switch, as Danny is thrown from the fast moving train – waking in hospital with broken bones, a bit of beating turned to attempted murder. The submarine song still plays in his head as he recovers in surprisingly good humour.
Fiction, but undoubtedly leaving many punks reflecting on similar experiences or remembering friends who faced similar brutality. Sometimes, fiction tells more truth than non-fiction.
Arthur Chappell