Horror Books

I would give it a 5 star review except for the fact that the dang thing fell apart within minutes of opening it! Too much fuss to exchange it. :(

I enjoyed reading Tales of the Vampires very much. I have missed BTVS ever since it ended in 2003 and this provided me with a much needed fix. I also found the artwork to be pretty cool. And as everyone keeps pointing out to me special effects are a lot easier in comic books than on tv.

Absent the Buffy series this is the closest we can come (along with the Buffy Season 8 comics)

"Tales of the Vampire" is an only mildly interesting mix of vampire stories, and if you buy this book for the writing you're going to be disappointed, as I was. There are many distinctive art styles displayed in the book, and that's an excellent reason to buy it if you want more visual variety than was permitted in the TV show format. However, the collection ultimately isn't a major addition to the assembled lore of the BuffyVerse, unlike the Season 8 stories.

The wraparound story that rationalizes the existence of all the others provides a glimpse into watcher training of yore, and that's about it despite occupying the biggest chunk of the book. A couple others ("Father", "The Problem With Vampires") attempt to explain how soulless vampires can maintain emotional, loving, attachments to others. "Jack" posits vampire activity to flesh out the story of "Jack the Ripper"; "Numb" gives a glimpse into Angel's mind around the time of "Amends", the Season 3 BtVS story in which snow came to Sunnydale; and "Antique" is an epilogue to "Buffy vs. Dracula". For 12 total stories there's just not much that's memorable. One in particular is pretty much a Dr. Seuss-like rhyme.

Mostly, though, "Tales of the Vampire" is about the art much more than the stories. Several of the story authors (Joss Whedon, Jane Espenson, Drew Goddard, Brett Matthews) repeat, but the artists are all unique. There's an additional gallery of full-page panels without text at the end of the book, featuring works by another 5 artists and 2 colorists. So this book is just chock full of distinctive artwork, and if you're looking for artistic range you may be delighted. The stories, alas, get short shrift.

Where "Tales of the Slayers" was entertaining, "Tales of the Vampires" is, to say the least, a spectacular collection of stories tied together by a first-rate tale which gives insight into the mythology of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." It's the best Buffyverse comic that I've read (other than Season Eight and Spike: Asylum, of course), and that's saying a lot. This collection simply has so much to offer. There's stories with drama, stories with depth, stories that explore and expand the mythology, and a few simply funny tales. It's clear to see that this was penned by people who loved writing for the show (Whedon, Espenson, Goddard) and others who loved watching the show (anyone with eyes/ears).

While "Tales of the Vampires" can be described as a collection of short graphic stories about vampires, it also tells a cohesive story about one vampire named Roche telling tales of the undead to a group of young watchers. As the stories unfold, it is simply a pleasure to see the young watcher named Edna realize what Roche's true reason for telling these tales is. The Roche/Edna plot that unfolds over the length of this book is written by Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy and Angel.

Some of the most interesting stories in this edition are about vampires we've never met before, but what fans will surely be most interested in is the stories about characters who have already been established in the Buffyverse. There are plenty of those. Spike and Drusilla's love story in "The Problem With Vampires" is touching, classic, and leads right up to their first appearance in the show. "Antique" is the first we hear of Buffy since the end of the series (this is pre-season eight) and it has her battling with Dracula for Xander's freedom. The closing story is one about Angel called "Numb" which takes place during the Season Three episode "Amends." It expands on the dreams that are tormenting Angel about his past, and has some of the most beautiful comic art I've ever seen. It really fits with the snowy mood of the episode.

The writing, as I mentioned above, is top-notch. The art, different for each story, is almost always great--except for, perhaps, the depiction of Buffy, Xander, and Dracula in "Antique." A bit to blagh for me. But all else is well. If you're interested in vampires, Buffy, comics, or are currently reading "Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Eight", then this is the book for you.

9/10

Here's a collection of 20 short stories, a script, a poem, a parable and an article on...

Little League baseball.

Which is the best thing in the book, amazingly enough. You realise this after forgetting how long you had been reading it, wondering what the hell will happen to this motley team of kids. Personal interest in this situation obviously raised Mr. King's work to a championship level well above your average local sports reporter's scribblings.

There are three standout, excellent stories, and a bunch of other good work, to give this group of tales an average of 3.75.

An eclectic mix. You aren't going to have a King without horror - not unless some publisher goes crazy, anyway. However, odd science fiction, some crime stories, a fantasy or two of the not really horrific kind, as opposed to people rending vampires earlier on in the book, or batmen later. There's even a Sherlock Holmes pastiche.

I'd give this a 4.75 overall as a job extremely well done. The author even recounts at the end how each story came to be, and manages that rather well, too.

Nightmares and Dreamscapes : Dolan's Cadillac - Stephen King
Nightmares and Dreamscapes : The End of the Whole Mess - Stephen King
Nightmares and Dreamscapes : Suffer the Little Children - Stephen King
Nightmares and Dreamscapes : The Night Flier - Stephen King
Nightmares and Dreamscapes : Popsy - Stephen King
Nightmares and Dreamscapes : It Grows on You - Stephen King
Nightmares and Dreamscapes : Chattery Teeth - Stephen King
Nightmares and Dreamscapes : Dedication - Stephen King
Nightmares and Dreamscapes : The Moving Finger - Stephen King
Nightmares and Dreamscapes : Sneakers - Stephen King
Nightmares and Dreamscapes : You Know They Got a Hell of a Band - Stephen King
Nightmares and Dreamscapes : Home Delivery - Stephen King
Nightmares and Dreamscapes : Rainy Season - Stephen King
Nightmares and Dreamscapes : My Pretty Pony - Stephen King
Nightmares and Dreamscapes : The Ten O' Clock People - Stephen King
Nightmares and Dreamscapes : Crouch End - Stephen King
Nightmares and Dreamscapes : The House on Maple Street - Stephen King
Nightmares and Dreamscapes : The Fifth Quarter - Stephen King
Nightmares and Dreamscapes : The Doctor's Case - Stephen King
Nightmares and Dreamscapes : Umney's Last Case - Stephen King


Camouflage pit, large, for highway animal.

4 out of 5


Calm mind lost.

4 out of 5


Have to shoot the little monsters, don't interrupt.

3.5 out of 5


Invisible, and pisses blood. Not good. Piss myself the ordinary way, very likely.

4.5 out of 5


Kidnappers should pick the human ones.

4.5 out of 5


Castle Rock survivors.

3 out of 5


I'm taking you home, my chomping little hero.

4.5 out of 5


Spoof eater curse signing time.

3.5 out of 5


Digitus impudicus extendis dunnyus takeoverus.

3.5 out of 5


Music biz mule dunny ghost.

4 out of 5


I do not want to be just like Buddy Holly.

4 out of 5


Need a zombie plan.

3.5 out of 5


Toad-poppin bad time in town tonight.

3.5 out of 5


Time is fleeting, grandpaness takes its toll.

3 out of 5


Anti-smoking anti-batmen squad.

4 out of 5


Mythos scoffer mortality.

4 out of 5


Renovation liftoff.

3 out of 5


Treasure map crim gives 'em a bath.

3.5 out of 5


Watson works one out ahead of the master, but they have to decide what to do with the criminals.

3.5 out of 5


Private eye story life swap Peoria pivot.

4 out of 5

This is the book for you if you like short stories, actually "You know they got a hell of a band" is a good one. Not all the stories are good, but you can have a good time reading them. If you like long stories I would recommend you another books like "The Shinning" or "It".

Another excellent example of Stephen King's work. His short stories are as suprising and well done as his longer novels. From man eating amphibians to killer toys to finger tapping, King's imagination seems to open up. My two personal favorites are Chattery Teeth and Rainy Season but none were a disappointment. An easy and definite read for all the Stephen King lovers.

I love taking long drives, and when I take those long drives, I love listening to audiobooks. Let me set the stage: when I listened to Nightmares and Dreamscapes, I was on my way to 29 Palms from Texas, all by myself, via back roads. Dark, unlit, deserted back roads. Somewhat unwisely, I popped this tape in around 8pm, somewhere in New Mexico, just as the sun was starting to set and make everything shadowy. Needless to say, the stories were a bit scarier than they would have been had I read them safely in my own, well-lit house with the alarm system at the ready. I credit (blame!) the actors for this, for they were outstanding! For example:

Crouch End: read by Tim Curry, quite possibly the scariest man in existence. I was familiar with the Cthulu myth, but to hear it through the imagination of Stephen King and the excellent, creepy and threatening Mr. Curry was terrifying.

Rainy Season: the very idea of maniacal toads raining from the sky is absurd, and the voice of Lisa Simpson doesn't seem scary at all. But put the two together on a dark, deserted road and you have a recipe for real fear.

The rest of this volume of stories is very good, if thought-provoking rather than terrifying. Vengeance lovers, rejoice! Dolan's Cadillac is a must-read (listen), as is The House on Maple Street.

I would recommend this book just for the introductory essay (see below).

[Note: I made some Mormon angry because of my negative reviews of books out to prove the Book of Mormon, and that person has been slamming my reviews almost as fast as they are posted.]

So your "helpful" vote is greatly appreciated. Thanks

King is a master writer, and I enjoyed this collection. I loved "Umney's Last Case" (evocative of 1930s crime fiction). Also liked the "House on Maple Street" (it kept me turning the pages).

The book is worth it for the introductory essay by Steven King. Here are some of the great lines from that essay, and I hope they make my short review worth reading.

Steven King wrote:

"When I was a kid I believed everything I was told, everything I read, and every dispatch sent out by my own overheated imagination. This made for more than a few sleepless nights, but it also filled the world I lived in with colors and textures I would not have traded for a lifetime of restful nights. I knew even then, you see, that there were people in the world--too many of them, actually--whose imaginative senses were eight numb or completely deadened, and who lived in a mental state skin to colorblindness."

Robert McCammon said something similar his brilliant coming-of-age novel, "Boy's Life"

"See, this is my opinion: we all start out knowing magic. We are born with whirlwinds, forest fires, and comets inside us. We are born able to sing to birds and read the clouds and see our destiny in grains of sand. But then we get the magic educated right out of our souls. We get it churched out, spanked out, washed out, and combed out. We get put on the straight and narrow and told to be responsible. Told to act our age. Told to grow up, for God's sake. And you know why we were told that? Because the people doing the telling were afraid of our wildness and youth, and because the magic they knew made them ashamed and sad of what they'd allowed to wither in themselves."

Based on my personal overview, questions i looked to get answers for were met. Many stories shared by proffesional writers were fairly inspirational in the fact that I am currently in production of an old book idea i tossed up on the dresser for months, now attacking it with fierce determination for completion of my final chapters.

I found this book to be a good overview of the horror genre. It provides many useful tips for writing dialogue and creating believable characters. Worth reading if you are an aspiring horror writer.

This collection of essays by a variety of authors and editors involved with the craft of writing and publishing horror fiction is a diverse and entertaining reading experience. Each essay provides a different insight and opinion to the craft, and often the writing of the text itself serves as an example for the reader of what "right" looks like.

The subject is approached from every angle. The art of writing, editing, inventing new ideas, avoiding cliche, finding appropriate educational resources, action writing, using spunk and style, as well as a list of important works already produced within the genre are among some of the tools that the reader will find.

The volume itself is compact and attractive, and offers far more value than its price tag hints at. A serious student of horror fiction, or even of fiction writing in general, should not be without it, and cannot help but learn from it.

This handbook's strength is not in its discussion of technique, although this stuff is very good.

The HWA's handbook really hits home with the writers that grapple the questions and challenges that are facing the horror genre at the moment and then manage to raise questions of their own that need to be addressed further.

A huge depth of knowledge and a great help for writers tackling their own writing so well worth it for any horror writer, amateur and published professional.

After finding this book completely by accident and then buying it, I was very pleased. Most of the information is quite valuable, offering a bounty of useful tips and writing strategies. I particularly enjoyed the articles on postmodern horror and the presence of horror in different mediums such as RPGS, videogames, plays, and even radio shows.

In terms of style and construction it never feels like you are reading a reference book.

It is an excellent book, and a valuable investment for anyone interested in writing horror.

I have no idea why there has to be New Tales of the Vampires, when this book seems to be exactly the same sort of thing as The Vampire Armand or Blood and Gold, etc. That being a detailed look at the background and history of the vampire Pandora, and again, this book is of similar quality to those two.

Pandora is an interesting character, and it is certainly a change to have a female as the focal point rather than yet another pretty boy.

I have always been interested in the character Pandora ever since first reading about her in Queen of the Damned. I caught the glimpses of her and her relationship to Marius and was so curious to find out more about her. She was intriguing to me, even with the very little that Anne wrote. So I was delighted that a book soley on Pandora was being written. The book is more of a novella, it is a quick read, but so full of information. Everything you could have possibly wanted to know about her. It delves deep into her ancient past and you get to see her before becoming immortal, meeting Marius, getting into trouble. Its fascinating. Its just great to break away from the Lestat Centric novels and into something new and refreshing. Its a great book and very informative as well. Anne really does a great amount of research when she writes anything. Especially about history, the architecture or a particular period, the style of clothing, it really goes on and on. She did a fantastic job with this book.
I'd like to say that you can read this as a stand-alone book without having to read the other Vampire Chronicles, but, though not in depth, it does go into some of the other books and might be a tad confusing for readers who have never read them. However, as to an order of reading, its not terribly important. But definitely read IWTV, TVL and QOTD, before reading this one.

This book is definitely one of my favorites from the Vampire Chronicles. I love the character. Some of Anne Rice's books are so drawn out with boring stories while Pandora seems alive. She's independent, smart, curious, mad, searching for comfort. We also get a good look at Marius, the elder vampire in charge of protecting the Queen of the Damned and her consort. I found the story riveting and a definite must-read for anyone who has read the other chronicles.

I only wish to be an honest reviewer, and as an honest reviewer I think the story Pandora was decent enough but not the best one Anne has written. To make some clarifications I'm not making any demands for an author to write a book to my standard, I'm only expressing my opinions.

I just became a huge fan of Anne's vampire books (interview, Lestat, Queen of the Damned) and loved Blood and Gold. After reading Blood and Gold (or the story of Marius) I thought the book Pandora might fill in some holes, For marius since he didn't have enough time to tell everythign about her. In the book Pandora, Pandora writes a story about her life to David Tabolt. In her big leather notebook it talks a lot about her Mortal past and her dreams of "rebirth". Almost half of the book is filled with mortal memories. Her past, unlike anyone else except Marius, has the most interesting past as a Roman lady. Her character even as a mortal and vampire is well expressed through the book, She independent, strongly intellectual, proud, clever, and free-spirited. She can be very fierce in arguments which can get pretty annoying at times. Her relationship with Marius is Errotic and loving, yet filled with arguments. Here, for those who admire Marius, Pandora reveals a lot of Marius' weaknesses more than Marius himself. He's depicted as weak (not his power, but more of his character and personality) and childish more than strong and mature which is very interesting. The book has done a good job describing some of the major conflict between Pandora and Marius, which I found sad and tragic.The book did very well with explaining how Pandora became a vampire.

To the darkside, Pandora warned that her story would be short and basic. For those who do not like short stories yet like Anne's books, I hope you'll bear with the book as you read. Pandora didn't mention about her point of view in certain events: Queen of the Damned, how she felt when she rescued marius, how she met Santinio for the second time, and attended a meeting with powerful and well known vampires. Blood and Gold, How did she meet an Asian (Indian to be more specific) male who became her fledgling and, ironically, a master. She didn't also describe her relationship with the Indian vampire. The funny part for me was, how did he turn out to enslave one of the most powreful vampire next to Marius? Also it contradicts her character, she's independent, strong, intellegent, and clever, yet she's controlled by this vampire? Maybe he was was too seductive to her but who knows. She didn't talk about the time when she killed the roman coven and met Santinio. The book never talked about how Pandora tried to search for Marius. Since Pandora's story is a short one, she didn't describe a lot about her relationship with Marius. It did however wrote about the factors that lead their relationship to break apart, but I just felt like there wasn't enough descripton about her relationship with Marius. Pandora also wrote other things that were for David Tabolt which would seem unimportant for some readers. About half of her book is about her mortal life which was well described and crucial, yet the other half ,which is about her life as a vampire, didn't really talk much about her vampire experience. The only part in the story about her vampire life that seemed important was her relationship with marius. The end of the book wasn't satisfying as well, she only talks to David Tabolt and wanted to go see Lestat (and Marius, who should be worth looking for if you're pandora). Despite these honest criticisms, Pandora did warn that her story would be short.

What Now? Do I reccomend readers to read this book? Yes and No. If you read Blood and Gold, Queen of the Damned, and Memnoch the Devil then You should read it but you might find it some-what dissapointing. If you only care about knowing Pandora, then yes I reccomend you this book. This book was written about Pandora and for Pandora, which I give credit for to Anne Rice especially how she wrote every word elegantly and dilegently.
I didn't find what I expected, but I did find more about Pandora herself and her philosophy.

This book is a masterpiece.It reveals the tale of the beautiful pandora.It is definitely a must read.

Pandora is born with the name Lydia in the Roman Republic a few years before the birth of Christ to a Senatorial family. She is tall, with rippling brown hair and gold-brown eyes. She meets Marius for the first time when he is twenty-five and she is ten, and falls in love with him. Marius has the same feelings and asks Pandora's father for her hand in marriage. Unfortunately, his proposal is rejected and the two are not to meet for many years after.

Pandora's father holds a high rank as a Senator. But when a new emperor takes power, her family is betrayed by her own brother and killed. Only Pandora and her traitorous brother survive the massacre, and she is taken to Antioch (after changing her name) by a man who was very close to her father. There she meets Marius again, fifteen odd years after they first met. Unbeknownst to her, Marius is now a vampire.

She eventually finds out what Marius has become, and also that he protects and hides the Queen and King of all Vampires. The two care for the Royal Couple together for awhile before a vampire, Akabar, tries to steal the Queen's powerful and ancient blood. Marius and Pandora prevent him from carrying out his plan. To spite Marius, Akabar drains Pandora to the point of death. In order to save her, Marius is forced to make Pandora into a vampire. The pair stay together for the next two hundred years before arguing and separating.

The next time they meet again is in a Dresden ballroom in the early to mid-1700's. Marius tries in vain to make Pandora leave her companion and fledgling, Arjun, and come back to him.

The next and last time that they meet is in 1985, when she is among thirteen vampires who survived Akasha's killing spree and gathered at Maharet's house in the Sonoma compound to battle against Akasha. Pandora remains quiet and withdrawn throughout the whole ordeal, staring out the windows and saying little, rousing herself only once to say that Akasha is trying to justify deplorable "reasons" for a holocaust.

Like many of Anne Rice's vampires, Pandora is portrayed as a morose, despairing immortal who initially wanted immortality but soon regretted her choice and turns into a dark, indifferent cynic. Lestat thinks that Pandora was troubled in some deep, fundamental way even before she became a vampire because she's the only vampire who doesn't receive visions of Maharet and Mekare in her dreams. During the confrontation in Sonoma, when Akasha directly asks Pandora to join with her or die, Pandora merely responds in a quiet, indifferent voice that she can't do what Akasha is asking of her and stoically accepts the idea of being killed.

Even after Akasha herself is destroyed and the thirteen vampires regroup in Armand's Night Island in Florida, Pandora still acts withdrawn from her fellow vampire kin, watching music videos all day long and completely ignoring Marius, who dotes on her lovingly. There is no sense of recovery or security in her as there is with the other vampires, and she departs from Night Island alone, still just as morose as ever.

enjoy...Nigel

Unlike the many ghost stories collections that just want to be outlets for new writers trying to write something scary, this book goes for the great ones, like Poe and Stoker. They're unknown, but brilliantly written and wonderfully freaky.

Stay with the classics and read this book!

Classic short stories from some of the best writers. good for a quick collection, read them, adapt them, commit them to memory, then tell them to a whole new generation

A whole different type of Ghost story. Keeps you on the edge of your seat at all times.

I purchased this book because I like to read ghost stories. I am also a teacher, and my kids read them as well. I was somewhat disappointed when I perused the book after receiving it. Most of the stories I had already read...in college courses. My kids didn't like them either; unless you have an exceptionally bright child, the stories are a little deep and complex for anyone under 16. Also, if parents knew the true symbolism of "The Yellow Wallpaper," they may not want their child to read it. I had a hard time with this story being in the context of a children's book.

These stories are also a little too long and out-of-date to capture a child's interest. I teach 7th and 8th grade, and if they got bored with the stories, I'm sure anyone younger would too. If you are an older person, you may enjoy these stories a little more, as we tend to appreciate and understand "classics" a little better. But, like I said, if you have a bright child that enjoys multifaceted stories, by all means, buy the book. That's my .02.

Contents:

***The Empty House by Algernon Blackwell......1

***The Monkey's Paw by W.W. Jacobs......21

***The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving......34

***The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allen Poe......70

***The Judge's House by Bram Stoker......78

***A Ghost Story by Jerome K. Jerome......100

***The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman......108

***The Romance of Certain Old Clothes by Henry James......128

***The Story of Clifford House by Anonymous......152


*** *** ***
An excellent collection of very spooky ghost stories from authors who were known for their ability to write them.

I recommend this book to you!

This book was fabulous! I couldn't put it down! I finished it in 2 days (stupid work! I'd have finished it in 1 day if I didn't have to go!!). I've always seen books about immortals as vampire, gross, bloody books. This one is not that way at all. It's cleverly written, everthing has an underlying meaning. While you read, keep notes on facts...you will have "aha!" moments later!!

My Soul to Keep grabs you and moves with descriptive style as if you are one of the characters. There are several stories within the story that end up intertwined later. The Jazz musician, the slave , the Ethiopian, the professor, the perfect husband and the immortal all of these characters were David also known as Dawit.There are bumps and bruises along the way with murders to cover up his "immortality", David was loved and was "Mr. Perfect" where did it all go wrong? When he fell in love and wanted to give the gift of life to his wife and child? Or when his wife stumbled on the mysterious death of his daughter Rosalie?

There were hints from "Grandpa" who's always eating a Whopper. When looking back on it I think the author used Grandpa to soften the anticipated, almost expected, blow of Kira's death. This was definitely painful to witness. I was frustrated with the speed of the unfolding. I wanted more time with Kira and to offer advice to the characters on how they could save her. Almost yelling at the book! I lost track of time reading the final chapters and couldn't put it down until I was finished.

The story leaves you hanging with several lose ends. What is Jessica doing sharing the living blood with terminal children in Africa? Was she in mourning over Kira and wanted to help as many kids as she could? Why was she so short with David when he came to visit? Will she go after him soon? I think she will. The new child seems even more powerful and superior then his immortal parents. Knowing that there is a sequel is comforting. B/c there are several more stories to be told.....

Overall it's a very good book. I would put it in the top 10 for sure. I can't wait to start the sequel.

Due is an amazing author and I can't wait to see the film adaptation of this book.

Filled with deep spiritual questions, these Tananrive Due horror novels (The Between, My Soul to Keep, and Living Blood) make my blood run cold and give me real goose bumps. It takes alot to make that happen.

I am an avid African American fiction & non-fiction reader. However, I never could get into sci-fi-type novels. My Soul to Keep changed my mind forever. I was hooked before the end of the first chapter, and read it in one night. I wanted more...and got it later. During that first read, I experienced so many different emotions: happiness, fear, anxiety, etc. That's a rare thing for me.

I think the problem with the other books that others would compare M S to K to was that the basis of the stories were unbelievable to me. Tananarive Due did an excellent job of making the story believable (at least to me) and taking me on a journey that had me addicted. I cannot wait for the third installment to come out in June!

I have watched the movie Carrie in the past and couldn't wait to get my hands on the book. When it finally arrived I couldn't put the book down. I still want to get Stephen Kings to sign this book when he starts signing books again and get another Stephen Kings book since I will only get to send two books in my life time.

I've been one of Mr. King's "Constant Readers" for years. However, my reading of his tales began with Gerald's Game and, until this past year, I never read anything published before it.

I now realize how unfortunate that was! The past few months have allowed me to rediscover Stephen King in an entirely new light. I finished Carrie this evening from my Kindle. (I've been THRILLED about all the classic King works popping up reguarly, as of late, in Kindle format. KEEP THEM COMING AMAZON!) While it hasn't been my favorite of the older works (Hey I read It and The Stand during this team; tough acts to follow to say the least!) it was an utterly captivating read. The printed version is some 200 pages, and it did feel such. It's a must read, for... well... anyone.

Carrie

By Sai Hendrij


Stephen Kings Carrie is a book of the horror genre; it describes the isolation of teenage youth at an evanescent level. Basically often unseen by anyone who is not a teenager themselves or someone who can relate to that feeling. That's the main reason I recommend it to the teenage public more so than adults and much more so than the younger audiences.

To start, Carrie is a teenage girl who still has not reached puberty. Until now on her sixteenth year and with it has come a new type of power. The TK gene in her body is growing and is now taking affect and when her mother and the whole student body takes their cruel jokes a little too far Carrie will pull the strings in the biggest and worst, first, and last joke of her life

Overall review
All in all I thought that Carrie was an awesome book. Considering the fact that horror stories are the only ones I can really get into. I think Stephen King did a great job especially for such an old society he lived in. I feel that I should also commend on the news articles that switch time schemes from the past and present without being confusing about what was still happening. It was also a different kind of way of building suspense up to the pinnacle of the story.
This is a book you should definitely read.

Recommended for ages 15+
For alcohol sexual references and violence

The first novel from Stephen King shows the beginnings of what most people have come to love in his works, but the book has lost some of its impact as the years have gone by. Still a really good read and considerably short compared to most King novels. Great place to start if you have never read Stephen King before (if there is anyone out there who hasn't)

Good story idea, especially for a guy to write. I was suprised at how the writting style is different from stephen's other works, this is more like a story and has articles from witnesses and other people added in. Very easy to read, I read it in about a 6 hour car ride.

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2Q18Q4MML78DG

I came across this book in the 8th grade when I had to do a book report on something in the science-fiction genre. It was the cover art that caught my eye. The book was truly fantastic. Nobody writes like Ray Bradbury; his ability to command the written word is truly incredible and he exhibits this skill superbly in this book. Young and old can appreciate this tale, of a group of young boys soaring through times and cultures examining the truth behind Halloween. You can read this book over and over again and glean new things from it each time. Truly one of Bradbury's best.

On a race through history, 8 boys must learn the secrets and origins of Halloween night in order that they might save the life of their friend, who has been stricken ill on Halloween. Ray Bradbury weaves an imaginative story that creates a rather simplified but no less interesting history of Halloween night. With his usual imagery, Bradbury really creates a story with eerie and sometimes scary nature that is Halloween night.

I own this DVD and watch it at least 3-4 times a year. I will have to watch it again soon, because I was sure there were three boys and a girl that were going out trick-or-treating.

I loved the book and now love the movie, and Leonard Nimoy makes the movie even more special. There is more here than meets the eye as friends look into themselves to see their relations with the mystical Pip. We see what makes a leader great with empathy and forgiveness and a special warmth that encourages others to be empathetic and giving too.

When it comes to using words to evoke bizarre and stimulating imagery, there is no one better than Ray Bradbury. This book is an adventure conducted by young male trick-or-treaters on a spooky Halloween night. They walk up to the door of the local haunted house and somehow one of them, a boy named Pip, is whisked away to a bizarre place. The mysterious Carapace Clavicle Moundshroud agrees to help the boys rescue Pip and they too are taken off on a journey through space and time.
During their travels, they are taken back to the days when the Egyptians mummified their dead, which is the first step in providing some historical background to the creatures commonly seen on Halloween night. All through the journeys, they come close to Pip, but whatever force that is controlling him always manages to take him out of their grasp at the last moment. At the end, all the boys are returned to their starting point and their most exciting Halloween ever is at an end.
Bradbury describes all this in his own unique and expressive style. For example, when the boys are in medieval Europe, there is the following paragraph:

"Which is to say that all the old beasts, all the old tales, all the old nightmares, all the old unused demons-put-by, and witches left in the lurch, quaked at the call, reared at the whistle, trembled at the summons, and in dustdevils of propulsion skimmed down the roads, flitted skies, buckshot through shaken trees, forded streams, swam rivers, pierced clouds, and arrived, arrived, arrived."

This is one of the best horror stories ever written for children. Furthermore, it also teaches them a bit of the folklore of Western civilization.

Bravely marching forward towards the end of the series... but not there yet! Spoilers for those who haven't read this far, of course, blah blah blah...

Another major turning point, not just for Light, but for Kira, Near, Mello, and the Japanese task force. The task force's last attempt to storm Mello and his mafia gang's hideout failed miserably, thanks to interference from shinigami Sidoh. But when Light's father, Soichiro, unexpectedly makes the deal with Ryuk for shinigami eyes, they're able to break into the hideout and corner Mello. But he isn't L's heir just because of his scary looks... Mello manages to escape, taking Soichiro out in the process. We discover that there's a spy for Mello in the SPK's midst (Near seems well aware of who it is). Mello and Near form a shaky partnership by sharing information and then separate to see who can catch Kira first and avenge L's death. The U.S. decides to take no action against Kira. Good old Demegawa of Sakura TV is proclaimed the spokesman of Kira, driving crowds into a frenzy as they hunt down those who would go against Kira (watch out SPK!). And Near sows seeds of mistrust (doesn't that sound fancy?) in the Japanese task force. WHEW!

This was actually a pretty cool volume. Like I said in my last review, I really enjoy watching Mello because he seems best at catching Light off-guard. It's nice to have some emotion register for these characters - and it was sad to see Soichiro pass on. Watching Light at his father's side as he dies, you really understand the depths he's sunk to as Kira. Soichiro's last moments are spent being pressured by Light to write Mello's name in the Death Note, and he refuses. We also see that Kira has been accepted by several world powers and is becoming more and more revered by the people. You have to wonder, though, if a man like Demegawa has been chosen to be the voice of Kira, what sort of corruption will he bring to Light's ideals.

Are there other people out there who feel like Matsuda needs to be slapped a few times? He's so trusting, it would be sad if it weren't so annoying.

Things get crazier still.

Light, running a fake investigation into himself has to deal with both Near and Mello, as well as the US government and the criminal overlords. Not to mention a not too bright Shinigami. Again, not everyone will get out of this one alive. This series continues to entertain as the more they find out, the more complex it seems to get.

Tsugumi Ohba, Death Note: Contact (ViZ, 2003)

Death Note continues on, with Light and company involved in their complex dance with Near and Mello, with everyone trying to figure out who's working with whom. I love this plotline, which continues to be compelling, but I'm starting to get bugged by Misa, who seems to have been just kind of wandering through the books recently without really doing much. Misa and Light's relationship with a critical point in past volumes, but it's starting to seem as if Ohba simply doesn't know what to do with her any more, and just keeps her around as a convenient accomplice for Light. Other than that, though, Death Note continues to roll on wonderfully. *** ½

Light Yagami has the whole world in his hands at this point, except for two thorns in his side, Mellow and Near, the replacements of the original L. Actually Mello is a bit of a vigilante and wants to prove that he was the rightful successor to L's legacy even though he was rejected. Light has contacted the Japanese NPA in the guise of Kira and has even handed over his Death Note in an extremely complicated plot to keep his identity safe and kill Mello. He's already set the stage by writing all of his minions into the Death Note and with the addition of Light's father being granted the Shinigami's eyes, all his dad has to do is see Mello to find out his real name. The NPA plans a daring raid on Mello's hideout but will Light be able to outsmart him or not?

I love Death Note but the convolutions of its plot sometimes leave its credibility lacking. You could probably fill a law library with all the rules pertaining to the Death Note. For example, you only lose your memory of the Death Note by passing on ownership of it, or by abandoning it, but only if someone is killed with the Death Note. Or the fact that only 6 Death Notes can be in the human world at once. That's only two out of the gazillion that have been mentioned before. I mean, who is making up these rules? God? They just seem so arbitrary and designed to convolute an already overly complicated story. In the end the Shinigami seem like moronic bureaucrats at best. Light's plans are a little hard to take because no human can predict another human's behavior as well as he does. Why does he need to be Kira if he can already predict and control every situation he finds himself in? He hardly ever breaks out in a sweat. Even the most intelligent people make mistakes, but the main characters in Death Note hardly ever do. Given all these complaints, I still really like the series, simply because of its big issues, such as the right to grant life and death and the aspiration of a man to become a god. It's great to see that even puny weirdo adolescents such as Mello and Near have the resources to take on probably one of the smartest men ever to walk the earth. While the story sometimes lacks logic, or contains too MUCH logic, Obata's art always shines and is finely detailed and realistic. A good read.

I've never loved anything like I love Death Note~

Best manga I've ever bought. 5 stars? try a million.

The last volume ended with a bit of a cliffhanger... someone besides Light possesses a Death Note and has made the deal for shinigami eyes. This second Kira is eager to meet the original, and L and the task force hope to intercept copycat before Kira can. Of course, Light is still active on the task force. When the second Kira reveals herself (gasp!) to Light, he must decide how best to use her and her shinigami.

Okay, so getting down to specifics, Misa (the second Kira) reveals herself to the police and then Light, confessing her love for him. She not quite what anyone expected. Compared to super geniuses (Wile E. Coyote-style) like Light and L, Misa isn't nearly as clever, but she's no dummy. She's unpredictable as well, being much more emotional than Light, and having the power of shinigami eyes. Her shinigami, Rem, is the complete opposite of Ryuk - forthcoming, patient, caring, and protective. Light isn't prepared to handle this curveball, and we see him acting more and more on the defensive.

Still, you can't help but feel that L is also struggling with the investigation. There's an interesting exchange between L and Light, where they talk about being friends. While you know that Light is just playing a part, you do feel for L, who seems lonely. He also contemplates his own mortality, knowing that he should concentrate on what he can do instead of letting the fear of death control him.

I think this volume's shift in focus - away from Light and Ryuk and on to L, Misa and Rem - was effective. While L has grown on me over the past three volumes, I liked Misa and Rem almost right away. Perhaps it's that they aren't as calculating as the other characters, but rather plain about their feelings. I'm looking forward to the next volume, especially after this new cliffhanger.

You can't not buy this... It's the kind of book that you have to read. Like the rest of the series... Lol.

With Misa as the second Kira, things get more complicated, with L wanting to stop her, and Light wanting to discover how to work with her. This is made somewhat easier for him when she turns up at his place and confesses serious love.

Her Shinigami also apparently has become quite attached to her, and makes it plain to Light in no uncertain terms that she is not to be harmed.

Volume Four of 'Death Note' still has the suspense charm that bestowed on the last three volumes. L is still suspicous of Light, but allows him to join his task force nonetheless, hoping to find a solution to this troubling problem. It seems as though the second Kira is a young woman who wants to be Kira's personal pet slave...or that's what it seems to me, since the girl, fashion model Misa Amane, is totally dedicated to Kira. I like this volume a bit more than the onces I've recently read, since Misa's Shinigami Rem, actually takes a liking to Misa. This proves for some interesting twists further in the series.

So why four out of five stars? Simply because I have yet to find a female character who doesn't seem either dumb or weak or completly dedicated to another character with lack of self-respect for herself. Light does not care who he uses or how he uses them, as long as they help him in his quest to be the New God to the New World, and of course, destroy L. It's still a good volume, but if you're looking for strong female characters, look elsewhere.

I don't care what anyone says, I love to see the proverbial noose closing in around Light's neck and then suddenly something happens and the noose loosens up some for the moment, and so far that's what Death Note has done.

At the end of the last book, we find out that a girl is responsible for sending the Kira messages to Sakura TV. We also found out that the girl has huge feelings for Light, but we don't know exactly why, well you find out in this book.

Anyway, about the book itself. The investigation team brings in Light for consultation on the new videos that are supposedly from Kira, though the videos are real, L takes the oppotunity to put Light to a test and gauge his reaction to see if he lets something slip that will lead to evidence to him being Kira. Soon the unit decides to create their own Kira using Light to try and capture this copycat Kira, however, from the tapes, Light learns that he really needs to meet this new Kira immediately because she is steadily giving away important information, such as the fact they are "bound" to a Shinigami.

Soon we even seen how this particular "goth" type girl came in possession of her Death Note and learn how to kill a Shinigami. But upon their meeting, Misa's Shinigami Rem has an immediate distaste for Light and vows to kill him if he even thinks about killing Misa (who is madly and blindly in love with Light). Things get even weirder after Misa is captured by the task force and placed in isolation and is "tortured" for information, now Light must devise a plan to save Misa or else Rem will kill him. In the end, Light must make a very important decision that could seriously affect his life.

This is another fantastic story, I can't wait to read the next volume. As I said in the beginning of this review, I love how Light is able to make his "escapes" all of the time. I so can't wait for the anime to hit shelves here in America. Anyway, this is another fantastic volume in a gripping and exciting series.