Horror Books

It's not a very deep story. I read it in one evening. It does have an interesting psycological twist and puts forth the truth that our words do hurt others and start a series of negative events. There is a fair level of morbidity to the story. I really don't see the need for the offensive language. It had every word that i don't want to hear or my kids to say. I know that the author thinks its probably pertinent to the story line, but it really could have been just as interesting without. i think that's a sign of a writer that is not very creative as evidenced by the shallowness of the story line--kids with abusive parents that act out. I threw it away and told my kids that it cussed all the way through.

This book was very suspenseful and entertaining but I am sick of books and movies that get you interested and then just end with little/no closure. This is one of those so if you want to know what happens to the characters and have things wrapped up, dont read this because apparently the author got bored and decided to just say 'the end' without finishing. At least that's how it felt to me anyway.

A tightly plotted, suspenseful story that keeps the pages turning. The question of "is she still alive" filled my head for most of the story, and I couldn't put the book down until I'd found out. Nicely done.

SPOILERS below, read at your own risk.

The ending was a little too rushed for my taste. I understand it's because of Cass's current state of mind, but I thought the shift was too sudden. Maybe because, throughout the book we see the story from the perspective of three people. Then, after the rescue, we only see Cass. I'd have liked to see a tiny bit from Kyle, knowing the state of mind Cass was in, and know how he felt about that. I think it would have rounded things out a bit more. Just my opinion. :)

What Happened to Cass McBride? by Gail Giles

When Kyle Kirby's brother commits suicide, Kyle must punish the girl who pushed David over the edge. He kidnaps the popular, smart, go-getting Cass McBride and buries her alive! Now, Cass is suddenly alone with herself, her thoughts, and her harsh words. But even she knows there's only one way out of the box she's in--Kyle.

"What Happened to Cass McBride?" is told through first person via Cass's eyes and Kyle's which is an interesting turn. You see clearly the motivation behind each one's actions. The detective searching for Cass is told in third person, but is necessary to move the story closer toward the resolution of finding Cass and catching Kyle. The story is intriguing and draws you in.

As Cass must analyze Kyle, she must also self-analyze. She is not merely speaking to his psyche to gain freedom. When she learns the details of David's suicide, she realizes she is to blame and she is fraught with guilt. Cass really transforms through her ordeal, and although no one could be the same after an experience like that, we know that Cass McBride will be a stronger, better person afterward.

Although, a powerful book, there isn't a lot of emotion. I feel for Cass McBride and the situation she finds herself in, but I'm not in the box with her. I remain safely detached from the situation. Still, the story is compelling and the characters motives are well explained and understood and you will empathize.

It was an interesting book and can hold the attention of youths and adults alike, but as an adult reader, I finished quickly and consider myself having read a great "young adult" novel.

What Happened to Cassie McBride is a suspenseful, page-turner which will not disappoint Young Adult readers. Gail Gillies has a intriguing way of making her characters come alive as well as encouraging teenagers to keep reading. Her creative characterization and foreshadowing motivate the reader.
I have read four of Gail Gillies's novels for reluctant readers, and everyone of her books is powerful, suspenseful and thought-provoking. I encourage all teenagers, even those who would rather be on the internet, to read one of her novels; you won't be disappointed!

I wish I could have read this book. The type was so tiny I couldn't read any of it.

Ann Radcliffe was truly ahead of her time. She was rumored to be an inspiration for Jane Austen and other female novelists of the time. No one will ever measure up to Mrs Radcliffe who followed her dream against what society deemed "appropriate".

"I believe that memory is responsible for nearly all these three-volume novels"
-Oscar Wilde

One thing I will say for this book is that it made Oscar Wilde's plays even more entertaining for me. I now know what he was talking about when he trashes books of "unusually revolting sentimentality." And what he says is very true. I am absolutely certain that Ann Radcliffe wrote this book as a sort of extended journal for her travels. At least half of it is devoted to scenery descriptions. Now this is not a bad thing in itself. I read "classics" all the time and I understand/appreciate that books tended to be more long winded due to the limited amounts of solo activities available at the time. But this is ridiculous.

I should point out that the full title of this book is "The Mysteries of Udolpho, A Romance; interspersed with some pieces of poetry by Ann Radcliffe." SOME pieces?!? Give me a break. She throws in her poetry every chance she gets. Her prose is neither creative or inspired. Every single verse is cheesy, lacking good poetic structure and ALWAYS about nature. This quickly gets redundant and I found myself skipping over her longer ones which can last for pages.

I have seen a few of these reviewers compare this book as the predecessor to Jane Austen. I beg to differ. I have read every single one of Jane Austen's books and these authors are separated by one very crucial fact: Jane Austen is a good writer and Ann Radcliffe is not. Radcliffe's writing style is extremely difficult to follow. Commas seem to be a critical plot point with her. Any kind of sentence and/or dialogue will read something like this:

"Emily, called, as she had requested, at an early hour, awoke, little refreshed by sleep, for uneasy dreams had pursued her, and marred the kindest blessing of the unhappy, but, when she opened her casement, looked out upon the woods, bright with the morning sun, and inspired the pure air, her mind was soothed."

Yes, that is all one sentence. I am almost positive that I've heard William Shatner talk more fluidly.

Despite all my griping about this book, I think the thing that annoyed me the most was that I really just didn't care about Emily. She struck me as very spoiled and sheltered. She cries nonstop and is constantly wallowing in self pity. In reality, none of the characters (not even her "evil" uncle) really abuse her. They are strict and worldly, nothing more. In one especially nauseating scene she is driving in a carriage with her aunt and uncle, wallowing in self pity as usual, and sees some peasants playing instruments. She then thinks to herself how lovely it would be to be a peasant because then she could spend the whole day doing whatever she wanted and not be controlled by an evil aunt and uncle. Umm... what?!? Last time I checked, peasants did NOT live a charmed life.

In contrast to Emily and Valancourt, I found myself actually liking her "evil" stepuncle, Montoni. He was pretty much the only character with ANY kind of common sense.

To sum up, save yourself a painful +/- 700 page read. If you want a cute and light romance I suggest checking out books by Georgette Heyer. Or go to the Bronte sisters if you want something more Gothic and substantial.

On one level, this novel defies categorisation. Yes, the Gothic web of mystery and intrigue is obvious. And so too are the beautiful descriptions of nature, the struggle between good and evil, the noble acts of heroism and the ignoble acts of greed.

Anne Radcliffe has taken all of these components and distilled an imaginative creation that still, some 213 years after publication, catches the imagination of the reader. If you do choose to read this glorious novel, make sure that you are prepared for a pace which relies more on descriptive prose and less on implied actions. Set aside the time to immerse yourself in the setting and enjoy the journey.

This is not a novel to be rushed, it is a novel to be savoured.

Ann Radcliffe was 30 years old the year this novel was published. What an accomplished and imaginative young woman she must have been.

Highly recommended.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

After having read the mere 176-page original gothic tale of 1764, Horace Walpole's "The Castle of Otranto", I embarked on this 672-page equally-famous gothic fantasy by Ann Radcliffe, published thirty years later, and a best-selling literary phenomenon of its day.

The opening of Terry Castle's incisive introduction to the work notes that, "Perhaps no work in the history of English fiction has been more often caricatured." It is supposed to be "the greatest (or at least the most famous) of gothic romances ... has an archetypal `gothic villain' ... is loaded with exotic scenery ... [and] its heroine, a victim of `sensibility', faints a lot." But whilst common opinion may see it as "a bit of a `silly' book too", the conscientious reader must actually "feel a twinge of bad faith"; Udolpho is actually "bigger, baggier and more uncanny than one thought it was." This is so true.

Whilst not denying a strong gothic element in the writing, the book is also a travelogue, a morality tale, a commentary on manners, and even a comedy of errors; just like Shakespeare, the servants provide a focus for humour, and Radcliffe is not even averse to parody herself as well as the tale she tells. Indeed, one can even view the novel as a typical Jane Austen romance - a woman, her marriage options, and the descent of landed property feature heavily in the plot - but this time set on the continent and in a gothic milieu; Jane Austen even drew on some of the scenes for her `Northanger Abbey' of 1818. But Terry Castle draws attention to the title of the novel, namely the `mysteries' of Udolpho. Thus one can add to the long list of genres set out above, even that of an Agatha Christie murder-mystery, a product of the new age of enlightenment when old-style superstitious mystery was replaced by its more reasoned newcomer, although "Radcliffe's supposedly `rational' explanations are at times almost more implausible than the supernatural explanations they are meant to displace."

Whilst the consensus about the book's merits might be overwhelmingly negative - "too long, feeble in characterisation ... lacking in moral or intellectual gravitas ... [and] full of absurdities" - a closer examination reveals "a meticulous stylist ... who can create moments of considerable drama". Indeed, the style of writing is worthy of remark. The book is full of long sentences, often beautifully constructed. The book must be read at a stately pace to accord with the natural breath of the author's rhythm. Did she speak in this way, or are the construction of sentences designed so as to be read aloud within family groups as they sat before the fire on cold, dark, late-eighteenth century evenings? This style can lead to artifice, and the excessive number of commas can be exasperating on occasions.

There are whole chapters of descriptive prose about the sublime effects of the natural landscape. These are of more value than mere curiosity; the author writes very well with a sharp eye for detail. Terry Castle sagely compares her prose in this regard to the landscapes paintings of Salvatore Rosa, Poussin and Claude Lorraine that Radcliffe admired. This is all the more amazing, as she never visited the places she describes in such detail, but sees them through the eyes of fancy. Actually, she saw them through the eyes of the likes of Tobias Smollett and Hester Thrale Piozzi whose travel books she greatly relied upon. Geographically, the novel forms an arc: volume one is set in Gascony and Languedoc; volume two in Venice and Udolpho; volume three in Udolpho and Tuscany; and volume four back in Gascony and Languedoc.

Ostensibly set in the year 1584, the book is imbued with the manners and sensibilities of genteel England of 1794. For this reason, I found it convenient to forego imagining a strict rendition of time and place. Whilst the number of precise factual anachronisms is small, they are nevertheless difficult to ignore; they include such items as coffee drinking, the names of English poets, the use of knives and forks, the wearing by ladies of certain hats, and the naming of rooms as `saloons'. Moreover, the description afforded to the city of Venice is more akin to the 1780s, or what Terry Castle in her introduction describes as "the elegant Venice of Canaletto and Goldoni", rather than that of the 1580s and the city of Tintoretto and Monteverdi.

There is very little character development. Indeed, there is very little character at all, since the novel revolves almost entirely around our heroine Emily. People come into her life and then leave only when they have some part to play in Emily's story. Even her dog, who appears to be her constant companion in all her travels, appears a mere two or three occasions in order to heighten tension or play a minor part in Emily's experiences: on his second appearance, as our heroine seeks to escape from the castle in which she is held, the dog's yapping threatens to disclose her position, but I had by then even forgotten the dog's very existence, so notably absent had his presence become.

So, what is this novel to be? A gothic romance? Travelogue? Morality tale? Commentary on manners or comedy of errors? Or enlightenment mystery? Why, all of the above, of course. But in a twist of blazing insight, perhaps Terry Castle is right to recommend this book for 21st century readers as a precursor of Freud's work on the unconscious, for "like a long and complex dream - the kind in which pleasure and apprehension are so closely intermingled as to become indistinguishable - the book repays imaginative introspection." When Radcliffe writes halfway through her novel that, the heroine "blamed herself for suffering her romantic imagination to carry her so far beyond the bounds of probability, and determined to endeavour to check its rapid flights, lest they should sometimes extend into madness", she is warning the incautious reader too.

The usual high standards of the Oxford University Press's World's Classics editions are upheld in this volume. Not only the introduction, but also the standard textual note, select bibliography, chronology and end-notes all appear to guide and enhance the experience. As with all reprints of classic works of literature, I recommend that the so-called introduction (which is really more of a commentary) is best read after the novel.

Yikes. Wow, but the ending of this book was quite a disappointment for me. And I don't mean bad writing. It's just that an author should care more about his work and more about his readers and less about a not-so-clever way to pull everything together.

The first half of this book: the usual gripping style of utterly explosive fantasy that I expect when I pick up a Darren Shan novel. The plot he has so carefully built over the course of the series is at its height, ready and snapping to come to a conclusion. More information is revealed, and I marvel at the craziness that goes on inside Mr. Shan's brain.

And then... good grief. It was as if he did not know how to end it, and in his conclusion made up something that made a terrible mockery of the entire series.

I kept waiting for him to fix it, waiting for an intelligent and wildly creative conclusion. Instead, all I was left with was a disgustingly cutesy twist that Mr. Shan must have thought was clever.

Horrible way to end an excellent series.

Sons of Destiny is very suspenseful. You don't know what will happen next. The ending is somewhat of a let down, but still interesting. I liked to think about all the possibilities the author let hanging. However, I'm sure he was far more capable of coming up with a something more plausible. The ending was parallel to the classic "And then I woke up. It was all a dream." It leaves the same impression.

Overall the entire series was totally fun. The characters were clearly developed and you felt like you were Darren. You thought what he thought. Often times, authors don't use realistic emotion. In all the Cirque books that was achieved well. Unique scenery, tons of action, and the complexities of a teen vampire make this book a exciting read.

This is a great book. A brilliant twist, I would have never guessed how this ended, (DONT READ ANY SPOILERS FOR IT). However, I was a little bummed about how the first, like 7 or 8 were erelevant once the quest for the Vampaneze Lord started. The ending was good, the book part of it was good, all of the characters were involved, and the whole thing came full circle, but it made the rest of the books not even matter. It was ONLY about the vampaneze lord, and you could ALMOST read this by itself.

I've read all the books in the series in less then a day. I couldn't put them down, but at the ending of this book, the last one, i didn't just put the book down, i threw it across my room. I loved the book up until the ending, and i love the series up until this book. I think it kills the whole series and leaves me wondering why i even bothered to buy and read the other 11. at the end, he goes back in time and stops everything that i read in books 1-11 non-existent, as in they didn't even happen. I felt as if the ending has said something like, "he woke up and it was all a bad dream!" what kind of ending is that to a series such as Cirque Du Freak. And because of this book i actually don't recommend the series anymore. What is the point of wasting you time reading 12 books, when everything you read ended up not happening.
Not only a waste of my time, but my hard earned money also. Don't get me wrong, i loved the series up until the end. i devoured the books and could not get enough, but this to me seems like Darren Shan was saying, "i don't want to write anymore Cirque Du Freak books, so lets just make everything i wrote in books 1-11 not happen!"
i feel like i was cheated.

I feel that "The Sons of Destiny" was a disappointing book and a poor way to end the Cirque Du Freak" series. I gave this two stars. This is because the book hasa bizzare storyline. also, the end of the book left me dumbfounded and searching for answers. The characters in the book went against their previous established personalities. Lastly, the climax of the book that author Darren Shan was building up to the entire series, wos not very entertaining to read. In the book, Darren Shan muust defeat his one time friend, but now foe, or die. Will Darren be able to trick the evil Des Tiny and save his friends? This horror book will dissapoint other people who have read the "Cirwue Du Freak" series.

This most recent Stephen King collection is excellent, which puts it ahead of Skeleton Crew and behind Nightmares and Dreamscapes for quality. It it less erratic than the former, and not as eclectic as the latter.

In the intro King states he likes to write short stories to show he isn't a sellout, and to keep his hand in so he remembers how to do it. He worries that they are going away, but thinks poetry is ahead of them, survival-wise? No idea if there are any best selling poetry collections, but I'd be pretty sure there are no poets that have the recognition that King does, at least poets that are alive?

Anyway, all of this is above average except for the final story, which is perhaps where you do not want to put the weakest piece. Apparently he chose the order of these at random but taking a suit plus a joker out of a deck of cards and assigning them by drawing cards. That is kind of a fun way to go, I suppose.

Plenty of good stuff to be found here of the horror variety, with the best story the tale that has the same title as the collection.

Everything's Eventual : Autopsy Room Four - Stephen King
Everything's Eventual : The Man in the Black Suit - Stephen King
Everything's Eventual : All That You Love Will Be Carried Away - Stephen King
Everything's Eventual : The Death of Jack Hamilton - Stephen King
Everything's Eventual : In the Deathroom - Stephen King
Everything's Eventual : The Little Sisters of Eluria - Stephen King
Everything's Eventual : Everything's Eventual - Stephen King
Everything's Eventual : L.T.'s Theory of Pets - Stephen King
Everything's Eventual : The Road Virus Heads North - Stephen King
Everything's Eventual : Lunch at the Gotham Cafe - Stephen King
Everything's Eventual : That Feeling You Can Only Say What It Is in French - Stephen King
Everything's Eventual : 1408 - Stephen King
Everything's Eventual : Riding the Bullet - Stephen King
Everything's Eventual : Luckey Quarter - Stephen King


Snakebit erection shock.

3.5 out of 5


Devil of a fishing trip.

4 out of 5


Graffiti collector russian roulette.

3.5 out of 5


Dillinger hideout luck is out.

3.5 out of 5


Shocking interrogation end.

4 out of 5


Witch bug tastes good to you, Rover?

3.5 out of 5


Trans hired murder discovery Excalibur alternative.

4.5 out of 5


Ratdog and Siamese cat, I wouldn't want to live there either, don't axemurder me.

3.5 out of 5


I can picture being massacred by a cannibal biker.

3.5 out of 5


Smoking withdrawal snack session slasher.

4 out of 5


Second honeymoon flight loop.

3.5 out of 5


13 is a flaming unlucky number, mate.

4 out of 5


Take my mum, ghost boy.

4 out of 5


Cheapskate, no gamble.

3 out of 5




4.5 out of 5

The introductory essay on short story-writing is worth the price of this collection alone; fans of King's "On Writing" book will want to pick this up for that reason. General fiction fans may find the O. Henry-winning story "The Man in the Black Suit" to their tastes, while more diehard fans will delight over the "Dark Tower" novella included. Add to that the short story "1408" (the basis for the John Cusack movie) and other rare King bits such as the eBook-only "Riding the Bullet" and you have King's most consistent collection to date...until his next one is released in Fall 2008, of course.

I read this book about a year ago. Overall, I thought it was a solid collection. Out of all of King's books of short stories, I like Night Shift the best, then Skeleton Crew, then this one third and Nightmares and Dreamscapes last. For me, the best story in this book is The Man in the Black Suit, followed closely by The Road Virus Heads North, both of which are very creepy and suspenseful. The title story is also really good, as is Autopsy Room Four, 1408, Lucky Quarter, and In the Deathroom. The only story in the book that I found truly bad was The Death of Jack Hamilton, which in my opinion is King's worst all time story. It was dull, pointless and boring. If you want a good collection of short stories with a mix of horror, suspense, and mystery, you should definately read this book.

Upon purchasing this novel, I was eagerly anticipating another collection of Stephen King short stories to equal his "Night Shift", "Skeleton Crew", "Four Past Midnight", and "Nightmares And Dreamscapes". Instead, I was surprised to find these tales ranging from the unexpectedly humorous to the truly frightening. Included are stories which touch upon such topics as covert government operations, and the grimly realistic horrors of an American trapped in a foreign prison; the terror of premature burial is explored. There's even a story of the fantasy/sci-fi genre while another echoes the noir crime fiction of Cornell Woolrich and, of course, the usual "things that go bump in the nit". Overall, a PERFECT sampler of the many styles of Stephen King's writing. A brillant, gifted author, here he proves himself to be more than a master of horror -- all of which is evident in this variant collection.

There is always something exciting about sitting down and reading a short story from Stephen King. Maybe it stems from my youth and the joy I felt discovering such a unique story teller when I read King's collections in "Night Shift" and "Skeleton Crew". Or maybe it is the knowledge that you can sit down (or lay down if that is your style), crack open a King story, climb aboard his airplane to destination unknown and finish the tale in one sitting. Whatever it is, there is something magical when Stephen King whittles down his writing to the essentials, and delivers a concise focused story best told in whispers late at night.

"Everything's Eventual" does deliver on the reader's expectations most of the time. His short stories have become longer since the days of his early works and the themes, characters and settings have matured slightly, but Stephen King can still deliver the goods. The stories in this collection show a more sophisticated author who can take a standard horror premise and make it his own through the development of real characters that the reader can empathize with. Stephen King's voice creates original stories from not so original premises of: a chance meeting with the devil, haunted hotels, a knife wielding crazy, lonely traveling salesmen.... However, there are also some very original ideas with about ¼ of the stories, and the execution is always fresh and interesting.

Fans will be happy to know that the "playful" Stephen King does make an appearance in a few stories in this collection. Stories that just feel like Stephen King had a grand time writing them because they flowed so easily. "The Little Sisters of Eluria" was just so much fun and I can see why the "Dark Tower" series has been so well received. "Autopsy Room Four" felt like it could have been included in the "Creepshow" collection. "Riding the Bullet" "The Road Virus Heads North" and "Lunch at the Gotham Café" also had the same joy of writing come through the stories.

Of course there are always a few favorites that will be looked upon fondly years from now and I particularly liked the following: "All That You Love Will Be Carries Away" (a sad tale of loneliness that resonated with me), "The Man in the Black Suit" (simple but I felt it), "The Death of Jack Hamilton" (not a Stephen King style story and not particularly exciting but different and well told) and "Riding the Bullet" (I am still thinking about this one and it was classic King).

All in all it is a good collection. Traditional King and more mature King. Some stories will work for you and some not so much, but if you climb aboard and let Air King take you along for the ride you won't be disappointed the majority of the time.

If you like zombies and you like Kirkman, you'll enjoy the walking dead.

This series is very similar in tone to 28 days later. So, it isn't totally original, but i think it is well done.

This is book two of the hit zombie comic series. It collects issues 13 through 24 of the ongoing series. Kirkman doesnt shy from being frank and honest in his storytelling, and suprisingly, the focus of the stories are not the zombies, but the human survivors. Dont be surprised if this is made into a movie soon.

If you bought this book or are considering buying it, you've likely read the first volume (which collects the first and second story arcs). Furthermore, you were probably entertained or at least intrigued by what you read in Volume One. However, if you're at all like me, you probably noticed that the first six issues of the series are of a much higher quality than the next six. Well, seeing as this book collects the NEXT twelve issues, the main question of this review is if this book is better or worse than the first volume?

Worse. Ever since Issue 7, this series has been on a steady ride down to the pits of mediocrity, but as you trudge through the book, you'll notice that it's quickly surpassing mediocrity and heading for "just plan bad." I'll break it down with a list of problems and then a list of positives, and you can decide if those problems are enough to keep you from buying this or not.

NEGATIVES
- The characters are one-dimensional, mostly because of the wooden dialogue. The characters that might have had a bit of promise in the first volume are reduced to exposition machines. "Character-driven," Kirkman? Yeah. Right.
- The art is pretty bad. There are times when it gets good, but it just seems really rush. The fact that the series started with the much superior artist Tony Moore makes it feel like a tease.
- The story doesn't really go anywhere, but it does pick up a bit in the latter half of this edition.
- The sexism is ludicrous. And it's blatantly shoved in your face, so if you can ignore it... I would say "good for you," but really, if you can ignore such blatant and disgusting sexism, it's really not good for you at all.

POSITIVES
+ There are some good ideas thrown about. If they ever come to fruition, this series may become worth reading again. Not sure if I can stick it out long enough to find out, but only time will tell.
+ Rick is pushed into a pretty bad place, and its interesting to see his reaction.
+ There are glimmers of good story underneath the piles of bad dialogue.

Overall, you choose. I'd say buy the trade paperbacks just to see if you like where Kirkman is taking the story, because this volume costs a lot for a story that's more likely to anger you than entertain you.

4/10

This is my new fave series. Can't get enough. If you love romero, things undead, or just character based work, you'll really dig this. I've gotten all 3 hardcovers and now mope about till the new issue hits newsstands. Recommend getting the hc for easy access to all the gooey stuff inbetween. Cover art in the back is a plus. Just go ahead and order it already.

Our band of survivors has found a prison that looks like an ideal shelter for them. Unfortunately, it's infested with zombies and it has to be cleared out. In the process, they find an unexpected pocket of survivors in the form of four former prisoners. Rick and the rest of his crew struggle to make the prison safe and have to face both the threat of death from the zombies and the more insidious threat of harm from each other.

This volume reprints issues 13-24 of the ongoing comic book series. The same material can also be found reprinted in the paperback compilations The Walking Dead Vol. 3: Safety Behind Bars and The Walking Dead Vol. 4: The Heart's Desire. Much of the drama in this volume focuses on the struggle between surviving humans rather than battles with the zombies. After Rick's group of survivors moves into the prison, two young girls are murdered but the culprit is unknown. Suspicion falls on the prisoners, but there's no evidence against them. In addition, all of the survivors face incredible stress each and every day and the author goes to some lengths to show the effects. Relationships fray, some come apart at the seams, and the group struggles to decide what rules they should live by, if any. It's pretty weighty stuff, but the author does a good job of weaving it into the story.

The Walking Dead continues to be a no-brainer for any fans of the zombie horror genre but others should not turn away without giving it a chance. The characters seem both real and distinct from each other. The story is packed with dramatic tension and I give it my highest recommendation. I certainly wouldn't recommend starting with this volume, read The Walking Dead Book 1 (Walking Dead) first. But if you've read the first part of the story, then go ahead and keep reading.

Even though I watched the moovie before reading the book, I read it on one breath. I think this is the best book I've ever held in my hands.

If you consider a novel that might inspire someone to lead a more giving, better life worthwhile - then read this. If you feel you want a book that reinforces textbook religion then don't - but there is a message in the book for those who might feel this way too.

Also, if you're a Matheson fan, don't be turned off by this being a romance novel. It is much more than that and there is enough horror in hell to keep us all happy.

This book rocks. Matheson claims in the introduction that he did hours and hours of research on life after death, and that this story is a very close representation of what actually happens. My question...how do you research such a thing with objectivity? I dunno, but it makes a wonderful story.

I saw the movie long before I even knew it was a book. Strange how time will do that to things like this. In a round about way I discovered this via the book "I am Legend", not the film starring Robin Williams. A co-worker of mine let me borrow the book since he thought it was up my alley. After reading "I am Legend" I had some concerns about reading another book by Richard Matheson. I really didn't find that book as enjoyable as I thought I would and the short stories at the end were simply mind numbing and terrible. Granted there is quite a bit of time between the release of "I am Legend" and "What Dreams May Come" (1950's vs. 1970's). I still went in expecting the worst.

I'm pleased to report that I ended up enjoying this book quite a bit in the end. The books development is certainly interesting in itself. Matheson researched a lot about the afterlife, psychics, mediums, and near death experiences in order to write this book. He even includes a lengthy bibliography at the end of the book for those interested in further reading. The only unfortunate aspect is that I would be concerned that some books he read might be a little outdated by 2008. I'm not really one to talk on this subject too much for I am not that well read on the afterlife. I merely dabble here and there as a passing interest. Anyway, I'll get on with the review.

"What Dreams May Come" is a very unique story told from a very unique perspective that simply defies the odds in the name of love. If you're expecting some relation to the film, I should stop you now. The film was merely inspired by the book, not a book to film. Both stories, while maintaining the same general concept, are drastically different. Main character has a different job, different amount of children etc. You get the point. In this case Chris (the main character) is a writer who's married to the love of his life and has four children with her. Unfortunately Chris dies and passes on to the afterlife. The book is written as an "after the fact" perspective in which Chris communicated to a psychic medium what transpired to him in the afterlife. He then has the psychic deliver the transcript to his brother Robert and from there is how we get to read the story of Chris and what happened to him after death. Chris wasn't what we would call a "ghost" because ghosts tend to be stuck on this material plane of existence, instead he managed to move on and transcend to a higher realm of existence. From there he communicated to a very powerful medium what happened to him there. This perspective is essential in understanding the story. I don't want to delve too much deeper into the tale because I think the basics are best to understand if you're going to go on this adventure and let the rest be a surprise!

When I first started this book, I was sort of worried. I didn't like the book very much at first, mostly because it was concepts that I understood. I wanted him to move on and get to the other realm instead of staying in ours, but for sixty pages I had to deal with this. I was almost ready to give up after a while... but honestly if you're like me it's worth the wait! Once Chris' character transcends the novel picks up instantly, especially if you're the type of person that thirsts for this kind of stuff. Once he transcended he met his guide, what ancient people and people today erroneously call guardian angels. Once this takes place we get to really see the world of the afterlife. Some of the explanations and concepts get technical, but I loved this. I found these more interesting to read than the story half the time! It's very akin to my own perspective on religion, afterlife, and personal development. You could say I found a bit of a kindred spirit in what this book explains. One aspect that I truly loved, but many others may be put off by, is that the book heavily downplays the importance of religions in general. In this case if you are generally a good and moral person you'll transcend after death. Even atheists transcend. However, what happens to people that believe too hard in their religions is they perpetuate the cycle in the afterlife. Now this isn't exactly a punishment because it's what they actually want to do, it's just the fact that there is more to life and the afterlife than just following a religion. I've always felt this perspective was correct, not just by reading this book, but it's just something I've always known. So if you're curious about this kind of thing then this book is an excellent medium to transfer that knowledge and I would expect that if you want to back up a fictional novel then you should flip through his bibliography and read some of those books.

Personally, I would definitely recommend this book, especially if you hold to some general tenets like me where you hold knowledge of anything and everything to be very important for progressing in life. The book never really touches upon the darker side or grayer aspects of the world, like those who live good lives, but have a generally dark outlook on things and are at home in such worlds. In this book heaven is the generally accepted beautiful. However, there are a number of people that humbly reject this requirement, so I wonder if there is a place where these people exist in their own kind of "heaven". I wonder this because this afterlife Matheson paints for us has general rules. Science and mathematics still govern certain aspects. If one delves deep into those realms you can get pretty chaotic and some people like that... I am always curious of other perspectives and concepts of that nature, especially when they defy the norm and are not common. As you can see, this novel makes you think about the world around you! That's kind of its purpose.

What was most fascinating to me was how well researched (though it's fiction) the book was. People who are familiar with "new age" and scientific discoveries on research into the afterlife from different perspectives won't fail to recognize many influences into this story. In addition, Matheson adds a bibliography of all the books he read before writing this work.

What most find memorable and touching about the story, which is the story of the way people who love each other strongly cope with life after death, what I found more clever was the way that Matheson wove so many theories on the afterlife together to paint a harmonious picture of what life after death could be for one person as he adjusts to what has become of his spirit after his death.

While this book should appeal very much to the romantic at heart, I also see the appeal to anyone interested in a fiction based on a depth of research into the afterlife phenomenon and also it should appeal to anyone who has questioned what the possibilities are in the afterlife. Matheson did well to cover just about every notion that has been presented in written works up until the publication of this novel.

Also, for lovers of this movie, this book should not disappoint as I found it even more beautiful and vivid and more conclusive. The movie made some changes that enhanced the story, though I think that Matheson's original telling of it had some elements (such as the power of prayer) that would have made the movie better if it had also been included in the movie. While there were many differences between the book and the movie, I do believe that anyone who appreciated the movie would appreciate the book equally, if not more.

I picked up this book after making it through the entire series of Sherrilyn Kenyon and KM Moning's Fever series. I have to say I am having a tough time with it. The characters are nicely done and Jim has the best comebacks ever, but while reading the book, I just didn't feel the urge to keep going thru all the details. It seems a bit cluttered to me and I really want to know what is happening to Drake and Aisling.
I guess what I am missing is chivalry.
If you like the Dark Hunters and the Fever series, you might give this a try - but it may not overwhelm you at all.

This is one of those series that I think I am going to read over and over and over again. I absolutely loved this book. I find the way the dragons are described great, I love the chase that Aishling puts up. The only qualm I have with the book is that no matter what this woman does she is constantly making the wrong choices. She flies off the handle and doesn't think. Maybe if she were a little bit less dense, the read would be better, but I still love it anyway! I just tend to prefer my women to have it together a little better!

I don't normally like books written in first person, but this one was great! Aisling is funny and knows how to laugh at herself as well. At first, I was a little turned off by the flippant treatment of the "magical" world that she is in. Most paranormal books have a more serious tone and treatment of magic and such. By the end of the book, I was totally hooked. I love the characters and her side kick is the best I've seen in years. Definitely worth a read.

Wonderfully refreshing series! I laughed out loud through all the books, a rare thing for me. I can't understand the reveiws that compare this series to the "Dead" series. Hello! No vampires! (and no mention of the word "Lurv" in sight, thank goodness.)
This is one of my favorite series right now, definitly a great read!

The heroine Asiling and her demon sidekick a dog say mean things and use sarcasm toward almost everyone throughout the book. Not once did I find the sarcasm funny, witty or entertaining. It felt like someone telling unfunny jokes. Some readers might enjoy this type of humor. I do not.

The heroine does stupid things which I didn't like. She starts out believing she is a normal human. Others tell her that she is a guardian with powers, but no one tells her anything about those powers. She gets a spell book to tell her how to summon a demon. Instead of following the recipe, she decides to use substitute products and says "I'm sure it'll be good enough" (page 86). This annoyed me. Later she issues a public challenge to someone but has no idea of the rules which she later learns means to the death. At other times when attempting something magical that she's never done before, she will say something like "I am a professional. I have power. I can do this" (page 315). Her "faking it attitude" annoyed me. This author also used one of my hated pet peeves, described below.

CAUTION SPOILERS:
One of my pet peeves: Aisling is delivering a package to Aurora. No one answers the door so she walks in and sees Aurora dead with a dagger in her chest. Aisling stumbles and grabs the dagger, which she is holding as the police arrive and see her. She is now the main murder suspect.

Another stupid thing: She sees a bad guy in Drake's home. She incorrectly assumes that the bad guy works for Drake. As a result she believes Drake is the murderer, which is not true. She runs away from Drake and plans to expose him. Later, she claims Drake is innocent, but I didn't see anything happening to change her mind.

Drake is a dragon in human form. Aisling is the only person who can receive and send his fire which proves she is his one mate. They have sex a couple of times, she is drawn to him, but in the end, she leaves him. He says "You are my mate. You cannot deny fate." She says "I make my own fate. See you around." She leaves the country. This is not the traditional romance novel happily ever after. This is the first book in the Aisling Grey series. I assume they will get together eventually, but I'm not going to buy any more of those books to find out.

Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: two. Setting: current day Paris, France. Copyright: 2004. Genre: paranormal romance.

I love the walking dead series and this book is a great introduction of the main characters. It sets the tone for the rest of the series. Everything is in black and white, but the art is wonderful. The story draws you in. It makes you think what it would be like if you suddenly awoke in a world full of zombies.

Visceral horror and subtle ongoing character serial combine to make "The Walking Dead" one of the most engaging comic-book series currently being produced. This initial volume, "Days Gone Bye", takes the first six issues of the Image Comics series and edits them together into one seamless (no easy feat when it comes to compilations) 130-plus page epic. Subsequent volumes collect later issues, with new volumes coming out like clockwork once there are six new issues of the monthly comic book to collect.

With its realistic looking characters (no abs-of-steel guys or buxom bimbos here) and gritty day-to-day situations (often horrifying but never over-the-top with silly horror movie situations), "The Walking Dead" is a comic book that doesn't feel "comic-booky", and would be a good title to recommend to friends who don't normally read comics. If they enjoy horror stories, that is.

Quibbles? Robert Kirkman is telling a great story here, but sometimes the word balloons can be a little dense with verbiage. These characters DO go on a bit. But that's really about it.

As this is a comic book, I guess I should touch on the visuals. Tony Moore's art is wonderful: detailed, subtle, yet fast-moving, if that's way to describe comic book art. What I mean is that the art makes your eye fly from panel to panel, drinking in the action. But his detail and subtlety make the quiet scenes resonate the way they should, too. Though Charlie Adlard's art in future volumes is perfectly fine, and has its own plusses, for my money the series never looked better than in this initial collection.

Give "The Walking Dead" a try. Its unusual mix of subtle artistry and firing-on-all-cylinders outright horror will grab you and keep you coming back for more.

just like lays potato chips . the best zombie saga that george r. never wrote . all the books are compelling . i don't even miss the color . kirkman rocks .

Adds nothing new to the zombie genre and yes it starts out exactly like 28 Days Later (Widescreen Edition), convieniently makes the main character a cop so he has access to weapons ad nauseum. Add simpering weak-willed wife and 'Jonny Boy' cookie cutter son and you've got yourself the Walking Dead vol 1. And you think the drawings might even be okay. I hate manga pop a lot less than this black and white rendered blob.

This zombie fan gives it a big MEH.

I'd give it a negative star if possible for the crappy steriotyping alone. And the whole male cast is straight out of a Budweiser/Coors commercial complete with the token ethnic characters & square-jawed main manly characters.

Some of the more negative reviews of this first Walking Dead book are quite merited. In many ways it feels derivative, even a bit lazy. I'd only like to add that the series does get better, a whole heck of a lot better. Read this first one just so you can get to know the characters, but if you're feeling put off, do yourself a favor and keep going. By the time I was halfway through the second book I was hooked hooked hooked, and I devoured the rest of them as fast as I could. These have some of the best character development I've ever seen in any media, let alone in comic books, which are NOT known for their depth.

Kirkman has made a decent name for himself in this business, and The Walking Dead series is a fantastic testament to his deserving respect.

The flaws of the prior book are forgiven in this marvelous second attempt as Shan brings on the battles and blood galore with plenty of delicious twists and new characters. Shan puts a new spin on the vampire legend whilst keeping it in time with the modern world and the circus culture.

Darren Shan is a half-vampire. His friends, Mr.Crepsley, Vancha March, Debbie Hemlock, and the police chief inspector, Alice Burgess,(and sort of Steve Leanard) are all helping Darren find the Vampaneze Lord. Something tragic and very unneeded happens to Mr. Crepsley and they find out who the real Vampaneze Lord is. Over all I think Cirque du Freak: Killers of the Dawn was the most exiting, gory,and sad book of Cirque du Freak yet.

A LOT happened in this li'l bookadoodle. Darren went to...JAIL! Along with Mr. Crepsley, Harkat, Vancha, and Steve. But that's only a few hours of this dark book. A great battle against the Vampaneze awaits. I liked this book, it was written well, and at one chapter, I actually believed it! (You'll see...) But there was one thing I didn't like...

***WARNING!!!! MAJOR, MASSIVE SPOILER AHEAD!!!! DO NOT, I REPEAT, !DO!!NOT! READ THIS UNLESS YOU HAVE ALREADY READ THE BOOK. IF YOU DO READ THIS, YOU WILL HATE YOURSELF FOR A LONG TIME!!!!!!!! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!!!!***

I didn't like how he killed of ister-may epsley-cray. I liked him, and without him, the Darren we know would not exist. He was a good, important character. I also thought he was a cool vampire, who laughed, was angry, loved someone, and held Darren up, unlike all the other vampires, such as Seba Nile, Gavner Purl, and even Vancha March who all seemed to act and talk the same to me. He really cared about Darren. Fortunately, Darren seems to be strong enought to go on without him. Still, it kinda sucks that he died there.

***OKAY, END OF MAJOR, MASSIVE SPOILER. IF YOU READ THIS BEFORE THE BOOK, WHOOPSIE!!!! TOLD YA NOT TO DO THAT, NAUGHTY PEOPLE. *wags finger* BACK TO THE REVIEW!!!!!!!***

That aside, it was good. I look foreward to the next book, and based on the exerpt I read (it was in the back of this book) we may find out a bit more about Harkat, which is cool, 'cause I like him. I hope things look up...

I like it a bit because it was violent and dramatic for example, in the scene where Mr. Crepsley died trying to save the entire vampire race. He died because there was a threat to the vampire race called, The Vampaneze Lord. This guy was going to lead the vampaneze in a war against the vampires. The difference between them is that the vampires drink as munch as they need and they hardly drink on humans, vampaneze are the ones that we think about from the movies and so on, they drink all of an animals blood because they think their superior.
I think if he put less drama added more plot and violence, it might have been better. I liked the scene where the random vampaneze attacked Darren Shan because it was very bloody and it reunited Darren w/ his best freind since elementary, Steve. If it had more scenes like that it might have been way better.
I gave it this much because he was reunited w/ his old girlfriend and his old best friend (pissed at him for being a ½ vampire this guy is the vampaneze lord). It didn't have as much violence as the others did like in the first one, he jacked Mr. Crepsley's spider and got bit. I liked some of the drama for example, when he made out w/ his old girlfriend (who is like 25 now and his only 19 or 15 and she's a high school teacher). I recommend you guys to read it and everything before and after this! =]

This story is about Darren Shan a Half vampire Larten Crepsley, and Vancha March. Crepsley and March are full vampires who are on the hunt for the lord of the vampaneze. When all else fails one of them has to lose his life so they can kill the lord of the vampanese. The only thing is that the one they kill isn't the real lord of the vampenese.
The author captured my interest by beginning the story with a battle with the police. Children under the age of 13 should not read this book because of all the blood and violence.