Horror Books

I got this book as a gift for my Birth Day. I loved Edgar Allan Poe, his writings, poetry, essays, everything. I first heard The Raven in my [...] class, than heard The Cask of Amontillado in my [...] class. I than fully fell-in-love with this Poet! I also went out and picked up Young Edgar Allan Poe, and read it, exploring his life from a small child in beautiful detail to his death. If you haven't read any of Edgar Allan Poe's writings yet, please do so. Now...
At first when you read some of his writings, you get washed away by the old-fashioned literature, to the insanity of his mind (which isn't so, mind you). I had to re-read The Masque of the Red Death twice before I fully comprehended just what happened. I relieved in the story: The Cask of Amontillado and The Pit and the Pendulum, struggled through The Bells, read my heart out in The Raven, raced through The Tell-Tale Heart and read curiously at The Man of the Crowd. This is truly the king of horror and insanity at it's best! Drop Stephen King for just a little while and read Poe, you won't regret it!

THIS BOOK IS VERY GOOD AND KEPT MY INTEREST THROUGH OUT THE WHOLE TIME I READ IT.

I've found this particular edition of Poe's (albiet incomplete) collected works to be the best and most accurate blend possible of his short fiction, poetry, and most important prose. The annotations and background information are also extremely helpful unlike some works that do not translate the Latin, for example. MOST IMPORTANTLY I've found this work to contain the most perfect editions of his poetry, as opposed to other collected works I've owned that have unusual deviances, such as "monody compels" (this ed.) vs "melody compels" of another edition. This has indeed become a faithful companion and my particular copy has become well-worn! I would suggest obtaining as a supplement a seperate edition of Poe's complete short stories and possibly also an edition of his collected prose, although this volume contains his perhaps most important work "The American Drama" anyway. Cheers, hope this helps!

Reading "The Fall of the House of Usher" for the first time it seems quite complicated due to both vocabulary and interpretation. Reading it again you notice how this difficult yet discriptive and varied vocabulary together with his narrative style capture you and set you right there next to the narrator to see what he saw and feel what he felt. The self-realizing prophecy of R.Usher makes you, too, fight with fear, but from a safe distance.

This story was disjointed, abstract, distrubing and confusing to the point that it hurt my head... yet I want to read it again. Although I'm not sure I understood everthing that happened, you get so caught up in the the agony of the characters insanity, one must read on to try to make sense of it. This is a book that you will read over and over to try and understand and just when you think you've got it... you will have doubt enough to read it once again!

Mike Carey, Lucifer: Devil in the Gateway (Vertigo, 2001)

Lucifer was always one of the more interesting characters in the Sandman universe, though he didn't get much screen time. Enter Mike Carey (John Constantine: Hellblazer), who takes the threads Gaiman left in Sandman and runs with them. Lucifer, having abdicated his throne, is now the owner of a small bar/club in Los Angeles, playing the piano and mingling with the natives with his longtime companion Mazikeen. That, however, does not stop him from messing in mortal affairs every once in a while. But there's more to it than that-- it seems Heaven will, with distaste, use Lucifer as a hitman when it doesn't wish to get its own hands dirty. And thus we meet Amenadiel, an angel with a mission: to hire the Lightbringer. Wheels within wheels within wheels; the Gaiman legacy is in good hands.

As much as I enjoyed the all-too-brief Death spinoff, the stories never held the complexity that was both Gaiman's atmosphere and his greatest strength. Carey, on the other hand, is a perfect channel for it. I admit I like this book a great deal more now, having read volumes 2 and 3, than I did when I first read it; so much of this is setup that it doesn't feel like a great deal actually happens. Rest assured, though, the series takes off quickly just after this. *** ½

I've been reading mostly manga over the past two years, so what surprised me most about this comic (aside from the most obvious differences, ie., color, dialogue-heavy, etc.) was that the illustrators in American comics appear to be disposable, exactly opposite from the Japanese system.

The first story in this comic is illustrated by Scott Hampton who draws a beautiful, lucid version of a Mephistophelean-type, world-weary Satan bored by the absurdity & impermanence of this universe. His beauty is matched by his exquisite courtesy.

The second story is drawn by Chris Weston (I guess...it is not always clear who is responsible for character design amid all the pencillers, inkers, and colorists listed) who draws Lucifer as a thug with the expression of someone who has bitten into something really sour or is, alternatively, in need of a really good laxative.

I found Lucifer's expression jarring enough but then he has been graced with a hairstyle reminiscent of Barbie's Ken. I mean, I know Japanese illustrators are far more concerned with a character's hair than their American counterpart, but come on people, do you really think even the ex-King of Hell would settle for hair that looks like a plastic bottlecap?

Apart from these quibbles about the graphic part of the graphic novel, the story is excellent. The plot is involved but precise and never insults the reader's intelligence. I've only read this first book, but there is obviously much more to come & I'm looking forward to Lucifer's struggle with the angels & whoever else comes up. I plant to read the whole series.

Mike Carey brings back Lucifer from the Sandman series for his own storyline complete with uncooperative angels, a girl who sees her best friend's ghost, a teen unsure of a unusual roadtrip with Morning Star and a tarot deck gone postal. Can't wait to read more!

If you like your literature dark, lurid and intense, feel free to indulge in Lucifer. The mere concept is rewarding to think about but seeing the personification of the prince of darkness as he goes about his day is as gratifying as it can get. Cool and cruel best describes Lucifer but he's mainly just trying to enjoy life since he got fed up with his dayjob so to speak. If you've read and loved Sandman, Preacher, or Kid Eternity, you're going to love Lucifer. Get ready for one hell of a ride.

This is collection of comic books for mature readers that starts here in the year 2000 and the series recently ended a couple months ago so you know it's modern and current. Lucifer first appeared in the critically acclaimed Sandman series, and like its source, is very racey for a comic book featuring nudity and swearing, right up my alley for someone who prefers R rated horror films if only out of curiosity and familiarity with the R rated- 18 and over. This is very similar to Vertigo's source The Sandman for those reasons, only in here Lucifer appears as a sympathetic character, a hero who appears like an angel- a blonde man with wings. I was surprised this was not very scary at all, as Lucifer is the hero does no mad deeds. Now, these are not your typical virgin 12 year old kiddie comics, DC published the Vertigo imprint for mature readers to suit a variety of literary tastes. After buying 3 or four issues and then finding Lucifer comic number one for cheap at local stores, I found the series to be addicting. The swearing and nudity became predictable as did the dark, brooding atmosphere, made me want to come back for more only if for the same thing. I think that it takes balls for a mainstream comic publisher like DC to make comics that bo beyond your basic super hero in soandex saves the day.

I have actually been avoiding these BPRD books for a while now, because initially I had been turned off by the lack of Mignola art. I also remember looking through one of the books and not caring for Guy Davis' style. I recently flipped through a BPRD book at a Borders, though, and realized that I've been depriving myself of something I'd actually really enjoy.

I like this book quite a bit. Guy Davis' art has really grown on me. In fact, I think it's great stuff. It serves the story very well. His renditions of Mignola's characters and stories achieve just the right feeling, that of horror mixed with humor mixed with pulp. The writing, too, holds that balance at the same level as the art.

The story concerns the BPRD moving their headquarters to an abandoned military research facility in Colorado. Once there, they encounter crazy Nazi/ghostly/paranormal weirdness, of course. There are some great moments of humor and horror as the story unfolds. One such moment involves Ben, the new team leader, ordering Roger to put on some pants, then changing his mind when he sees the result of his order. Roger is also mystified throughout by everyone's insistence that he should have a gun. Johann, at one point, finds this awesome looking 40's style machine/weapon that he straps to his back to fight an "angel," and the image is one of my favorite illustrations from the book.

There is also a secondary story about Abe Sapien's past. It's ok, but it is sort of distracting from the main story. It takes a long time to get where it's going, which is not that climactic once it's there. It feels like it should have been a standalone section in one of Mignola's Hellboy books rather than a back-up in a BPRD book.

I love the new characters Johann and Ben. Johann adds more good weirdness and Ben's personality hits off the other characters in interesting ways. I'm looking forward to finding more out about each of them.

Another reviewer mentioned that Roger's personality seems a bit different from his outings in the pages of Hellboy. I agree with that, but I don't think the change is a bad one. It actually adds another layer to the team dynamic, and it's not so far off from Roger's previous depictions so as to be jarring.

I will definitely be picking up more of these books, provided that this creative team is still involved. I'm partial to consistent creative teams, and since book 3 on is all Davis, Arcudi, and Mignola, it looks like those will be the ones I collect.

The B.P.R.D. team is sans Hellboy, but the result is still pretty good. They have a new member, a disembodied ghost type, in a suit to designed to give him some corporeal functions.

Other than that, they have problems within their own location, and must journey to the site of an old case.

This graphic novel features Hellboy spin-off the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense, a sort of offbeat superhero group who devote their time to defeating supernatural threats when Hellboy is out of town. If you're a big Mignola / Hellboy fan, and can find it in the discount bins, or in a used bookstore, it may be worth picking up, but not at full price.

Arcudi is an experienced comics writer who I'm familiar with from his previous efforts with Dark Horse, and the main storyline, dealing with a "bad things are loose in our installation" theme, is competent. A sideplot involving Abe Sapien's adventures in a haunted house seems underdeveloped, and its inclusion distracts from the main plot rather than enhancing it.

The main problem with The Dead is the artwork: Guy Davis is simply not a very good draftsman and his pencils have a crude and unfinished character that undermines the book. Too often, I had the sense I was reading a pre-production copy that awaited more polishing before seeing print. Davis has illustrated other BPRD titles ("The Black Flame", "Plague of Frogs") and looks to do the newest one as well, so there's no escaping him as far as this series is concerned. Sad to say, mediocre artwork has always been a real problem with much of Dark Horse's output over the past two decades.

It's hard not to conclude that Hellboy creator Mike Mignola is stretching himself too thin with all his various projects over the past four years. The highly anticipated, two-issue comic "The Island" that came out in 2005 was his first Hellboy effort in several years and was a major disappointment. The plot was essentially nonexistent, and the supposed Big Revelation about Hellboy's True Nature was underwhelming at best. Mignola seems to be taking a step in the right direction with having the well-known and distinctive artist Richard Corben assist with the artwork on the brand-new "Hellboy: Makoma" series; it's time to apply the same care to the BPRD series if it is to emerge as a worthy franchise in its own right.

This was one of those "oh my goodness, I didn't know this was out" moments in the store. I hardly ever do impulse buying of _anything_, but well - I'm glad I brought this one home.

The art style is noticeably different from Mignola's classic work, but still quite eyeworthy. Spoilers ahoy!
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The views of the long-abandoned home of Langdon Caul were fascinating, from a purely draftsmanship point of view. Something about it reminded me powerfully of parts of "In the Mouth of Madness", which was both disquieting and very satisfying. The paralleling of the storylines - Abe's quest and the team's difficulties in the sub-basement - was very well handled. The characterization of the unfortunate Gunter was
enjoyable. Having all this brouhaha happening, not in some remote fastness, but under the BPRD's new headquarters, was
an inspired choice.

Another thing I liked is how the new character - 'Captain Zombie'- is introduced. We don't get a whole bellyful of exposition and flashback - just quick and to the point,
leaving the tantalizing possibility of finding out more about this guy in future stories.

My only real quibble is the characterization of Roger in this story. He's something of a _naif_, yes, and unfamiliar with the ways of the world (five centuries dormant in a cellar can do that to you) but in this he's portrayed as essentially childlike - which is NOT how I'm used to seeing him.

All in all, a great addition to my growing library of Hellboyiana.

Carlton Mellick penned Satan Burger at age 22 and proved that he was one of the funniest, freshest and most original young authors of the Bizarro genre.
Satan Burger is a great starter book for readers who are unfamiliar with Mellick's twisted prose.
Fans of Franz Kafka will revel in the splatterpunk mayhem that ensues.
Mellick is an author to watch out for.

This is the story of punks in a chaotic wasteland of the future. It is the story of God closing the gates of Heaven and turning His back on mankind. It is the story of hell going out of business, forcing Satan to come to Earth with hopes of success in the fast food industry by opening his own chain called Satan Burger. This book is a comedy. It is also a science-fiction horror story. If you like interesting writing, imaginative worlds, weird characters, and pages upon pages of interesting factoids on a universe that doesn't really exist, then Satan Burger is the book for you.

This book is set in a future where a personified planet Earth has become bored with human beings, so he begins trading species with other worlds like a little kid would trade action figures with his friends. Earth acquires all manner of otherworldly creatures such as a race of sex-crazed blue skin women, lizard people and a race of midgets that dress like historical American presidents. These creatures have overpopulated the cities, especially Rippington, where this book takes place. But strangely, the reaction of the humans is complete and utter apathy. A mother watches her own child convulse and die, right in her lap, and all she does is stare at her wall and shrug. In fact, it seems that is the only reaction anyone has to anything anymore (staring at the wall and shrugging) according to our narrator named Leaf.

Leaf and his friends are in a punk band. They are the only ones with enough passion for life left in them to do anything meaningful in this apathetic world where no one cares about anything anymore. They meet up with Satan (yes, that Satan) who has just opened up a fast food restaurant where the food is so good you would trade your soul for it.

This book is a beautiful, surreal, picture of a dystopian future. The characters are lovable f'ups that convey a convincing portrait of the passion of youth. The writing style is fun and HIGHLY imaginative. I took my time reading this book because every page was so full of unique ideas and philosophies that sparked my imagination. This is the kind of book that would be fun to read at the same time with a group of friends so you can discuss all of the crazy awesome details after you're done.

I don't normally write reviews but i thought I should warn you. Dont buy this book. It reads like an angsty high school students journal. I bought this after being recomended it by many people on amazon. I like choke and survivor and easton ellis and all that but this is whack.

Okay, okay. I've heard enough about the so-called juvenile shock tactics that people accuse this book of having. It's untrue, plain and simple

This is a complex and entertaining book about a really, really screwed-up future. It's punk rock surrealism, baby. It's gonna be weird, it's gonna be off-the-wall. But it's also gonna be fun as hell.

Let's get serious. There is crazy stuff that goes on in this book. If you are a Christian, you probably shouldn't read this. If you like your sci-fi by the book, you probably shouldn't read this. However, if you like your futuristic tales splashed with a healthy dose of bizarro, then by all means, read SATAN BURGER. If you have a warped sense of humor, then by all means, read SATAN BURGER.

Carlton Mellick makes some pretty interesting observations about religion, music "scenes", consumerism, society, and human nature in general. Despite the sometimes gruesome imagery and the sex-death-blasphemy that abounds, the author has a lot to say about religion and life. You'll find yourself being forced to THINK about things while reading this book. It's not just entertainment, really. Well, at least in my experience.

The organization of the book was also pretty interesting. (Act One, etc).

CONS: The book could have probably been shorter. I found that it dragged in parts. Still, that's not enough reason to not read the book. You'll enjoy it if you like your fiction weird and with a sense of humor. If you don't mind an author making fun of religion, this is for you. If you don't mind an author making fun of people in general, this is for you.

There is enough imagination in this book to power a whole series of books. You'll find so much mind-blowing imagery that you can't help but feel that you've ripped off the author by what you paid. You will feel like you owe him quite a bit more. You can practically feel the energy and the passion that the author obviously put into this work.

And so, you should buy and read SATAN BURGER. In fact, buy a few copies and give them out to your friends. They'll thank you for it.

This second book picks right up where Eighth Grade Bites left off. Vlad is keeping a low profile since vampires are after him, he's starting ninth grade, he's hanging with Henry and Henry's cousin Joss. He is however studying under Otis and beginning to understand his vampire heritage more.

My only complaint about Brewer's book is that it ends too fast but we do get more information about issues that came up in book one which I don't want to include because of plot spoilers. Still, a solid effort and one I think you will like!

Vlad returns, with all his glorious sarcasm that I so love!

Heather Brewer does a wonderful job of drawing us into the continuing exploits of Vladmir Tod, freshman at Bathory High. He's still got a huge crush on Meredith. He makes new friends, and a budding school paper reporter threatens to expose Vlad's secret.

Oh, did I forget to mention he's a vampire?

The second installment in this series holds more of the excitement, action and humor we loved in Eighth Grade Bites, the first of the Chronicles of Vladmir Tod.

If you're like me, and you prefer your heros to have their flaws, and female characters to exist beyond behaving like pretty but empty soap bubbles, you'll love Vlad and the world Heather Brewer has created.

Vladimir Tod, a teenager that is also half vamp is starting his freshman year at Bathory High. You would think a teenage vampire would have little to no problems right? Well, bullies, crushes and a slayer later, he is still a teenager with above average problems, pimples are not on his worry list right at the moment.

Vlad has had a huge crush on Meredith but just does not have the nerve to even say hello since their last encounter. She is beyond beautiful in his eyes, and is going to the dance with his new friend! What? Yet another teenage problem that even a vamp can not hide from. He has harbored such feelings of regret for the `what could've been' and now it seems he may just be too shy to let Meredith know that he's crazy about her.

A slayer has been sent to eliminate Vlad, and he must be alert at all times, as well as deal with the school photographer. Vlad takes a trip to Siberia with his Uncle Otis, that is going to be unforgettable...too bad there is still a slayer around. And as all teenagers find out, not everyone is your friend. Don't forget about the girl, will Vlad ever get his chance to have the kiss he has dreamed about?

Ninth Grade Slays is majorly packed full of action and being a YA novel it is definitely suitable for adults! Heather Brewer gets in touch with her inner teenager and really rocks out an amazing novel with a very detailed and energetic Vlad. I look forward to more Chronicles in Ms. Brewer's series, this is definitely one of my favorite YA authors! 5 Hearts

NINTH GRADE SLAYS - THE CHRONICLES OF VLADIMIR TOD
Heather Brewer


Rating: 5 Enchantments

And Vlad thought eighth grade sucked. Now he's in ninth grade. Even though he destroyed the president of the Elysian committee, he finds life as a teen hasn't changed much. His best friend, Henry, seems to have his own popularity fan club, Meredith is interested in Joss, Henry's cousin, and there's a slayer out to get him. Somehow he doubts even Buffy's wisdom could help.

Otis comes back and takes Vlad to Siberia to meet Vikas, the oldest vampire, to learn telepathy and the truth of who he might be. Along the way, Vlad finds out more about the prophesized Pravus, maybe more than he wants to know. How he longs for a warm mug of O positive and a side of fresh chocolate chip cookies.

NINTH GRADE SLAYS is a fun fast-read into the mind of Vlad, a ninth grade half-vampire. Ms. Brewer does a great job of showing the reader that even though Vlad craves blood, he still gets flustered while around the prettiest girl of Bathory High. Vlad's struggles to find out the truth about who he is, rang true.
Readers will want to follow Vlad to the Tenth grade where I'm sure the conflict of his heritage will continue.

Heather Brewer doesn't believe in happy endings...unless they involve blood. Check out her website at www.heatherbrewer.com and her blog - Bleeding Ink at www.heatherbrewer.com/bleedingink where she has ongoing contests. Heather lives with her family in St. Louis, Missouri.

Kim
Enchanting Reviews
April 2008

If Vlad thought eighth grade sucked, he's in for a real treat as a freshman. Vlad is still hiding his vampire side from everyone except Henry and Nelly, he is still picked on by the bullies, and he is still stuck on Meredith.

Although there is a little silver lining -- Vladimir finally has an opportunity and the guidance to learn more about his vampire nature. Otis and Vlad take a trip to Siberia, where Vlad is able to increase his knowledge of his abilities, and is also taught by a very old vampire, Vikas. It's a shame he can't use his abilities to improve his grades! He also learns the myth of the Pravus. Could Vladimir possibly be the vampire from the prophecy?

But Vlad has much more to worry about than his prophetic existence. He is being hunted. It seems like a vampire slayer is in town, but he's not the only one out for Vlad's blood! Vlad may have thought that eight grade bites, but ninth grade slays!

Okay, wow! I must say this book was even better than the first! The plot is more intense and I didn't see the big twist coming until it was right before my eyes! I also loved the Pravus myth; could our beloved Vlad be the one?! If you are a fan of the first book you will not be disappointed with the second installment to the series. Ms. Brewer continues to impress me. I'm looking forward to her next book!

Reviewed by: The Story Siren

Like the first volume of Kristina, Queen of Vampires, this is an erotic graphic novel from Dutch author Frank Mensink. The translations have the same problem in Volume 2 as in Volume 1: namely, an amateurish feel, lack of attention to tone, and some occasionally bizarre word choices. Like I said in my review of that volume, this is nothing you haven't experienced if you've ever read HEAVY METAL. If you can forgive that weakness, then read on.

Volume 2 picks up more than a year after Volume 1; Kristina, a medieval vampire who was accidentally resuscitated in the modern age, is just waking up from a long period of regeneration after her ill-fated encounter with police investigators Mark and Iris. (That's what you get for coming between a woman and her man, honey.) She quickly goes back to her kinder, gentler feeding routine -- she only goes after criminals, particularly murderers and rapists, figuring that nobody will care if they're gone. She also rekindles her charmingly affectionate affair with John and Veronica, the two humans whom she took as thralls in Volume 1. Things take a bit of a different turn, however, when she is approached by the leader of a large nest of vampires who want her to be their queen. It seems that they don't make vamps like they used to, and Kristina has the mystic mojo necessary to be the most powerful vamp around.

Again, this series is unusual because it's hard to find any real villains, other than the human scum who comprise Kristina's nightly entrées. Even the modern vampires treat their thralls kindly, though that seems to be more for their own comfort than out of genuine compassion for the thralls ("I hate it when they scream all the time," says the vamp leader). It would be easy to root for happy endings for all involved, if Kristina weren't still obsessed with snagging Mike as her immortal beloved.

Much like Volume 1, Volume 2 is obviously set up for a sequel. That's fine by me; these are fun, sexy stories with good art and much more interesting characters than most erotic comics. Hopefully it won't take another two years for Mensik to come out with Volume 3.

First off, let me say that the art seems to have improved since the first chapter. Which is not a put down of the first chapter it just points out how the artist, like many others, is always trying to improve on his work, trying to reach and go beyond his own standards.
The story also makes some sense. While the other vampires are weaker than Kristina they have been living within modern society longer and understand how to survive within it. Of course she has no idea about silver bullets. As she SAID the best weapon they had in the old days were crossbows. I wonder how she will react to the Internet Chat Rooms and Blood Banks? She should get a sports car. Why should she fly all the time when she can pick up victims in style?
Frankly, I can't wait to see Chapter Three. And it is nice to know Kristina, the real model used for the Queen's character, helped to develop this chapter of the story and it was a bonus to see a photo of her on the back cover.

While this is a spin off of the Vampy series, I found the two books in the series well writen and very well drawn. As someone who likes a working plot with the graphics I was quite pleased with the results.Kristina, Queen of VampiresKristina Queen of Vampires Chapter 2 (Kristina, Queen of Vampires)

I've waited patiently for 14 months, and I received my copy of Chapter 2 on 11/08/2007. The art, as expected, is outstanding. But to be honest, the storyline left me wanting (well, see for yourself), it just lacked the punch of Chapter 1! Still, I do recommended it to everyone to get yourself a copy and check it out! Myself, I am looking forward to Chapter 3!

It is my hope that Kristina and Mensink will once again, raise the bar in the next Chapter.

My rating: 5 Stars (art) 3 Stars (story) Final rating: 4 stars!

The art was once again excellent. Mensink uses vibrant colors, the proportions were spot on and the people didn't look cartoonish. The sex was hot and explicitly rendered, as in the first installment. However, this "novel" is shorter and the story was a disappointing follow-up to chapter one.

Chapter one ended with another vampire Lord becoming aware of Kristina's presence and wanting her as their queen because she's so strong. She does visit them, and naturally an orgy ensues. But yet, she was quickly foiled again by the female DA and ended up wounded exactly as in chapter one! If she's so powerful why shouldn't she come out ahead this time? And how has the coven survived so long when they're supposedly so much weaker than her?

Sure, I realize this is "just" an adult comic, but that doesn't mean the story can't be as good as in part 1. Another thing I didn't care for was the increased amount of F/F action than in the first book. I will definitely buy chapter 3 when it's finally released, but I hope it follows through on the promise of chapter 1.

Great book with incredible imagery. There are many pages that will make you think twice about that darkness outside your door, the farm down the street and going upstairs. The plot remains thick and twisting the whole way through. Good read.

Dan Simmons is a great author.This was a very enjoyable and intense read.I couldnt put it down.I loved the characters in the book.Devinitlty a must read for any horror fan

As a ghost story, Dan Simmons' A Winter Haunting disappointed me. It's neither scary nor thrilling. The storyline plods, the protagonist is not particularly likable, and the ending falls flat.

Maybe the novel is not a ghost story, but it is set up as one. In Elm Haven, Simmons presents a decaying, depressing place, the ideal setting for a ghost story. The protagonist, Dale, has bottomed out in his life, the ideal character for a ghost story. When things get weird for Dale, the author balances the supernatural explanations (ghosts) with more natural ones (sleeplessness, madness, pharmaceutical reactions), another staple of ghost stories. And of course there are ghosts.

In my opinion, Simmons ruins this novel with all the literary references/allusions. He has done this before, in Ilium and Hyperion, both of which failed to dazzle me. In this novel, the references to Beowulf, Henry James, and obscure languages obfuscate the plot; they do not enrich it. Additionally, the flashbacks to Dale's time with Clare retard the pace and atmosphere. I think that a ghost story relies on an escalation of tension, and the flashbacks stunt that buildup. Also, the author labors over the descriptions of setting; do we really need to know the models of various houses? Finally, the novel contains a mystery regarding Duane's demise, but Dale does not solve it. It gets solved for him. Shouldn't the main character solve the mystery? Instead of having Dale rush off to the library to decrypt some bizarre ghostly email, Simmons should have had him investigate the circumstances of his childhood friend's death.

I like Dan Simmons, and I like how he experiments with different genres. Song of Kali, The Crook Factory, and The Terror are excellent, atmospheric novels. When he chooses to tell a straightforward story, Simmons excels. For me, when he injects his novels with literary meaning, he stumbles. Simmons is a good writer, but in my opinion, A Winter Haunting is not a good book.

I had a really hard time staying with this story.Some parts were good than it would very quickly get boring and drawn out,I found myself skipping over many pages.It is not a story that would stay with me,it just didn`t keep my interest.Not even half as good as the prequel.

This is my second Simmons novel, and I must say that he is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. I read this book without knowing that "Summer of Night" came before it... which is sad because I bought them both together an am now apparently reading them out of order. Never the less, I had no trouble following the story without having read the preceding novel. I think having read it would have filled me in a bit on some of the information that the sheriff seems to randomly blurt out toward the end of the novel, but it didn't really bother me.

Dale is an interesting character; pitiful, deplorable at times, yet not so appalling as to make him hard to root for. After destroying his life and his relationships through bad choice after bad choice, a failed suicide attempt sends him back to his childhood to try to write a novel while sorting through his past. Dale drifts in and out of possible madness, as the reader you are never sure... is he being haunted by ghosts? His past? Or simply madness? Is he loosing his mind or are there hell hounds growing and growling in the night outside of his childhood friend's house. The tragic death of his childhood friend has scarred him, though we are never sure how deeply. Is Dale writing notes to himself or communicating with his long dead childhood friend Duane?

Most of the complaints about the "slow pace" of the book come from the flashbacks Dale has of his life with Claire. Clair is not a very likeable person and we know that Dale has thrown his marriage away to be with her, and of course... it ended badly between them. Also we have chapters from the perspective of a spirit we assume to be Duane, watching Dale and telling us a bit of what he sees from the outside. The spirit chapters bothered me a bit; particularly at the end when I wondered why, if the spirit was so eloquent was it so cryptic in it's warnings to him. Perhaps it knew that Dale must traverse this path whether it wanted him to or not.

Dale's choice to live in his dead friend's farmhouse is a strange one, and when it seems that the reader has figured out what is going on, the twists guide you into a new direction. I went through a range of guesses hoping always to be wrong. For the most part I was, and I am glad for it. I like to be surprised by a novel. Though I didn't find the book to be "Hair Raising" or "Spine tingling" I did find it to be a wonderfully enjoyable read. Well written and perplexing without being confusing. You find yourself just as baffled by events as Dale and hoping that he finds a way to survive either the madness or the haunting. 4.5 out of 5 stars... excellent read!

Not his best, but for some reason it was my favorite. Was an easy read. Chilling in some parts. Hard to explain but worth buying.

Oddly entertaining and easy to read. John Saul has a way of bringing creepiness into sight. Not one of his best books, but worth the time to read.

A readers dream...great product, excellent condition, prompt service and can't beat the price. Thanks Amazon- I'll definitely be ordering more of these!

Okay, I LISTENED to this on the commute to/from work. It's been quite a while since my last John Saul novels (which I enjoyed years ago...Comes the Blind Fury, Second Child, Nathaniel). I hate to admit it, but I was a bit disappointed with this one. Perhaps it was the dramatized voices on the audio cds, I don't know, but I found myself actually rolling my eyes and at one point and thinking, "Oh brother!". I won't say it's a horrible story, but I was glad when I finished it and was out of my misery.

First, the whole set up that initiates this teenaged-girl-is-kidnapped-by-psychopath thriller is preposterous. Second, there are a few plot holes and some characters that you may not really care about all that much. Third, this is a better John Saul than the last couple of efforts I read but not quite one of his top three either("Creature" being my favorite). Yet, for me, this book represented a guilty pleasure, sort of like enjoying some breezy action movie the critics dismiss as junk.

To summarize,we get set up in the first pages with the ramblings of a madman followed quickly by the story of a family that is on the edge of falling apart. Apparently, the only way to keep them together is to move from a quaint, upper middle class New York suburb into Manhattan(don't ask). So the daughter makes known her desire to stay put, the parents tell her otherwise, the resulting tension contributes to her being alone in the house, and things are set into motion. The kidnap, search, and the mind of the madman are all played out in Saul's easy reading style.

Overall, this was escapist reading. By that I mean, I read it in three
days, quickly donated it to my local library, and it is prety much forgotten. But it was decent enough fun while it lasted.

If you can give into the plot "holes" and enjoy Saul, I think you can try this. If you have not read Saul, I think you can start here but I believe you should search out his supernatural or science based thrillers first. Then you may decide to come back to this and enjoy it a bit more.

I compared this new edition to the former one and it is missing some of the original stories. It also had a poor publisher as the page are fragile and the inking cheap. Nonetheless, King's work here shows you the starting ideas for larger projects like The Stand, Carrie, Christine and others. Wish I could find more of the original copies that included The Laundromat and other stories.

Stephen King's first collection, and very good it was too. Mostly horror as you would expect, but some SF horror, a twisted little crime story, and a call it would you like death by disease story to finish.

Demons, Elder Gods, voodoo, punishment, armageddon, bloody murder and more exist for you to find in these pages.

Night Shift : Jerusalem's Lot - Stephen King
Night Shift : Graveyard Shift - Stephen King
Night Shift : Night Surf - Stephen King
Night Shift : I am the Doorway - Stephen King
Night Shift : The Mangler - Stephen King
Night Shift : The Boogeyman - Stephen King
Night Shift : Gray Matter - Stephen King
Night Shift : Battleground - Stephen King
Night Shift : Trucks - Stephen King
Night Shift : Sometimes They Come Back - Stephen King
Night Shift : Strawberry Spring - Stephen King
Night Shift : The Ledge - Stephen King
Night Shift : The Lawnmower Man - Stephen King
Night Shift : Quitters Inc - Stephen King
Night Shift : I Know What You Need - Stephen King
Night Shift : Children of the Corn - Stephen King
Night Shift : The Last Rung on the Ladder - Stephen King
Night Shift : The Man Who Loved Flowers - Stephen King
Night Shift : One for the Road - Stephen King
Night Shift : The Woman in the room - Stephen King



May as well be hung for Yogshoggoth as a lamb.

3.5 out of 5


Rats in the tunnels.

4 out of 5


Just the flu got us in the end.

3 out of 5


Venus traveller, bad.

3.5 out of 5


Demons not ironed out.

4.5 out of 5


Closeted, badly.

3.5 out of 5


Bad beer.

4 out of 5


Green plastic army men are well armed these days.

4.5 out of 5


Pump slaves.

4 out of 5


Braindead, a lot of these students.

4 out of 5


Hey, I think I know this slasher.

3.5 out of 5


Walking around the welshers.

4.5 out of 5


Cat mower massacre prompts new gardening hire who has vegetarian and other disturbing habits.

3.5 out of 5


Aversion family therapy.

4.5 out of 5


Boyfriends with Necronomicons, just say no.

4 out of 5


Crucifixion row monster.

3.5 out of 5


Swan dive too late.

3.5 out of 5


Bloody hammers not a Norma-tive bouquet.

3.5 out of 5


What sort of people go to 'Salem's Lot? Not smart ones, that is for sure.

4 out of 5


Mum overdose improvement.

3 out of 5




4.5 out of 5

Stephen King's earliest short story collection. The stories range from very good (five stars) to not very thrilling or shocking at all (one star). In my opinion, the stories well worth reading are Children of the Corn (a couple stumbles into a town run by fanatical kids), Quitters, Inc. (a new twist on how to quit smoking) and Trucks (trucks take over the world). The stories that can hardly be described as horror are The Woman in the Room (assisted suicide) and The Last Rung on the Ladder (sibling dependency). The remaining stories fall somewhere in the middle. I definitely prefer Stephen King's longer novels over his short stories because the characters can be developed with much more detail and as the reader, I have more time to submerge myself into the horror he creates.

I find this work more revealing of King's style and techniques that he takes full advantage of in his more major works. This is a good example of what makes a short story its own creature no less significant compared to novels and epics.

Ive been reading alot of King lately and I must say this book packs the most for your dollar. I like King writing shorter storys rather then a whole novel dedicated to one subject, I guess you can say I have ADD. The only problem I had was the first story sucked and so did the last one, but the rest of the book is on par with some of the best horror writing of all time. I highly recommend this book for a good scare.

This isn't a zombie book. I'm sorry, but I'm a classic zombie fan. Zombies are mindless, driven only by the desire for fresh meat. When zombies think, talk, and obey they are no longer zombies.
The grim reaper was an interesting insertion in the zombie storyline but it was an undeveloped concept. This was probably the worst zombie book I ever read.

I kept slogging through this book hoping it would get better. Was turned off by the change of "Zombie Rules" regarding no way to kill the zombies. The grim reaper was an interesting twist but overall a huge miss on this one. Don't waste your time. Just finished 14 different Zombie books and this is by far the bottom of the barrell.

In a world facing the apocalypse, add in various elements like Zombies, Ancient gods, a special forces squad on a holy undertaking, an earthly manifestation of the reaper (plus his boss??), a group of people trying to survive it all and you end up with a really gripping, no holds barred story.

This book is descriptive, well written has a great storyline with a new twist.

It's well paced and you're immersed quickly into what's taking place. Take a chance on this book it does not disappoint.

If anything, I think Mr. Dunwoody owes us a follow up to this story. I'm really interested to see what happens at the VERY END of it all.

Author Dave Dunwoody doesn't flinch and doesn't pull his punches. Be prepared for something different. Permuted Press's formula of twisted, altered horror is upheld superbly in Empire with descriptive, well-written prose, dialogue and several new ideas that make this anything but run-of-the-mill horror. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up---Empire will not disappoint!

Stephen North
Author of Beneath the Mask

Empire is a fascinating horror story of the most unique way. There is a lot of action, and drama and enough gore to put it right there at the top with Stephen King, David Wellington, Aaron Powell and more.

This is NOT your typical staggering, munching, zombie story. Even the Reaper has a new take. (I ain't givin' nuthin' away). Read for yourself. Once you start, you won't be able to put it down. I promise!