Curse of the Emerald Buddha: A YA Pulp Short Story: Rot Gut Pulp, #3

By CT Liotta

In the Heart of Bangkok, a Race Against Time to Save a Sacred Treasure!

When fourteen-year-old Ian Racalmuto lands in Thailand with his family, they anticipate a holiday of exploration and cultural immersion. Their vacation takes a dramatic turn, however, when they stumble upon a sinister plot involving Bangkok's revered Emerald Buddha.

Guided by his newfound friend Noc, with whom he shares an inescapable bond, Ian navigates labyrinthine alleyways and crowded waterways. Their journey thrusts them into a world brimming with high-stakes art theft, dangerous syndicates, and a diverse cast of characters – from charismatic street vendors to elusive criminals, each harboring clandestine motives and stories.

Liotta masterfully blends rich, descriptive settings with a fast-paced plot, transporting readers to the heart of Thailand's bustling capital. CURSE OF THE EMERALD BUDDHA! is not just a tale of intrigue and adventure; it's a dark LGBT coming-of-age journey of self-discovery, resilience, and the limits of trust.

Perfect for fans of action-packed adventure, cultural exploration, and the pains of coming out, CURSE OF THE EMERALD BUDDHA! is an unforgettable journey into the heart of Southeast Asia's enchanting mystique.

Rot Gut Pulp: Entertainment, not Genius.™

Note: Death in the City of Dreams is a work of fiction. Not everybody will find it to be an accurate depiction of their lived experiences. It may contain difficult subjects and offensive themes and language. Neither Rot Gut Pulp nor the author offer advisories, as sensitivities vary from person to person.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rot Gut Pulp
• Release date: Dec 24, 2023
• ISBN: 9798224996476

CT Liotta

CT Liotta was born and raised in West Virginia before moving to Ohio for college. He now uses Philadelphia as his base of operations. You can find him the world over. Liotta takes interest in writing, travel, personal finance, and sociology. He likes vintage airlines and aircraft, politics, news, foreign affairs, the scientific method, evidence-based decisions, ’40s pulp and film noir.

Book preview

Curse of the Emerald Buddha!

CT Liotta

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Rot Gut Pulp

Copyright © 2023 by CT Liotta

All rights reserved. This story or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by United States of America copyright law.

Curse of the Emerald Buddha! is a work of fiction. Not everybody will see themselves reflected in the characters, or find it to be an accurate depiction of their lived experience. It may contain difficult subject matter and offensive themes and language. Neither Rot Gut Pulp nor the author offer advisories, as sensitivities vary from person to person.

Names, characters, business, events and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Cover Illustration & Design Copyright © 2023 by Malinda Dekker

Book design by Catherine Curry

Editing by Curt Sembello & Corliss Wilborne

Rot Gut Pulp. It’s not meant to be good. It’s meant to be read.™

Contents

A Note from the Editor Emeritus

Curse of the Emerald Buddha!

Buy NO GOOD ABOUT GOODBYE today!

About CT Liotta

A Note from the Editor Emeritus

Last year, I told CT Liotta a young adult short story that uses a Thai massage parlor as a set-piece was impossible. What else are you going to do? I asked. Make a Mama-San Vinita Clapp’s Henchman? It’s the year of our Lord 2023.

Like Relic of the Damned! and Death in the City of Dreams, Curse of the Emerald Buddha! is based on a true story. I know this, having been to a Thai massage parlor or two. Rot Gut Pulp continues to present it unadulterated and uncensored—even after similar decisions ultimately led to my ejection from the publishing house I created and shuttered our fiction operation.

Why such recklessness? Because it’s entertaining. We’d put a headless body in a topless bar for some pocket change and viral chatter on Tik Tok. If you’re afraid tales like this will harm young people, content yourself with the fact they’re reading instead of finishing their friends with rifle shots to the head on some internet-connected video game you don’t understand.

My wife, God rest her soul, survived electroshock to die in a paragliding accident. The universe is cruel. If such darkness is unappealing, put this story down. There’s plenty of wholesome dreck out there.

If you enjoy this book, buy No Good About Goodbye, the author’s debut novel.

Sincerely,

Curt Sembello, E-in-C emeritus, Rot Gut Pulp Publications

Rot Gut Pulp. Entertainment, not Genius. ™

Curse of the Emerald Buddha!

When 14-year-old Ian Racalmuto stepped from his taxi onto Khao San Road, he