Beware The Shadows

It’s a strange thing, the way horror and comedy go together. You’d think that the two genres would have nothing in common. And yet, for some reason, they do. And when done well, there’s few things more entertaining.

You’re Next fits squarely in the horror-comedy camp. It’s bloody; it’s irreverent; it’s filled with ridiculous caricatures. It also has one of the best female heroines I have ever seen. She is kick-ass in every way.

Is it scary? Not really. There are some great jump scares, and some shocking kills. But it is funny, in a dark and disturbing way. The last five minutes are worth the price of admission.

4 Stars

So I have decided to attempt to watch/read and review 31 horror movies/novels this October. Every day, a different review. Not all of these will be new, mind you, but they will be the result of my horror activity during the month of October. So last night, for instance, I watched Suspiria. The review is below. (Tonight I am watching You’re Next, so new review tomorrow.) Anyway, enjoy! We’ll see if I can keep it up.

Suspiria

Happy October everyone! Later this month on October 27, I’ll be joining the folks at The Daily Dish–one of the best restaurants in the DC area–for a night of Halloween Horror. I’ll be reading, signing, and selling books, and if that’s not enough reason to join us, there’s also a costume contest (though feel free to come as-is) and Flying Dog Brewery will be there showcasing their special Halloween brews, The Fear, the Truth, and Bloodline. Come out for some good food and some horrifying fun…if you dare!

Here are some pictures from last year’s event.

Standing room only

Hopefully the night will be as beautiful this year

My favorite time of year is just around the corner–October, the greatest month of them all, ending in the greatest holiday of them all, Halloween. The only way to make the season better? A horror novel, of course! Here are my personal recommendations, three new books, and three old.

New Books

1.  Jade Sky by Patrick Frievald — Without a doubt the best thriller I’ve read all year, Jade Sky isn’t straight horror, but plenty of horrific things happen to satisfy all your needs. A great book from one of the best in the business, Jade Sky looks to be the first in a series that could run for a very long time.

2. Lucky’s Girl by William Holloway — Not for the faint of heart–and I mean that as there are some seriously messed up things going on in this book–Lucky’s Girl looks to be the novel that will make William Holloway famous. Be one of the first to read it.

3. Red Equinox by Doug Wynne — OK, I’m cheating here. I had an opportunity to read an early copy of this book and it pretty much blew me away. The next big thing in Lovecraftian fiction, but it doesn’t come out until January. What to do? Pick up Doug’s excellent Devil of Echo Lake or Steel Breeze.

Classics

1. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson — The classic haunted house story. Often imitated, never duplicated, Jackson’s beautiful writing and simple, understated style are sure to make you question whether that bump you heard in the night was really just the wind.

2. House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski — This one might take you longer than the month of October to finish, but if you can get through it–and it’s more of a maze than the eponymous house–you will be rewarded. Freaky book. Gets in your head.

3. A Night in The Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny — I make a point of reading this book every October. Thirty-one chapters, one for each day. It’s beautiful and wonderful and not to be missed. One of my favorite books of all time. Do what you have to to get your hands on it.

Check it out.

The Reborn is very different than Talley’s Lovecraftian fling titled That Which Should Not Be yet is very much equal in its quality and its excitement. Four and a Half stars.

So overall, this particular Double Down volume is a worthy successor to the old Ace Doubles and is definitely worth checking out.

Much like the first book in the Southern Reach trilogy, Authority is easy to read, engaging, somewhat addictive, and beautifully written. And yet, I still can’t say that I enjoy this series as much as I would like to. I still get the feeling that there’s no there there, that I am going to finish the third book and none of the questions will be answered, that the author has created a world too rich, too complex, too mysterious to ever adequately explain it. Authority answered some questions, but no where near as many as I had hoped and no where near as completely as I would have liked. It also seems as though the book is filled with inexplicable decisions/stubbornness by the various characters that seemingly had no purpose but to stretch the plot to where it could be sustained for 300 pages.

I find myself in a strange place with these books. I like them, I really do, and yet the reviews I’ve written for the first two entries have been somewhat negative (not to mention rambling). In part, I am still reserving judgment until I have read the last book. I am, however, beginning to wonder why these books weren’t one or two volumes. Yes, they’d make a long single book–900 or so pages. But I think a good editor could have shortened book two considerably without losing anything necessary, and I wouldn’t be surprised to learn the same thing about the third one. Not that much of a big deal–I’ve never been a fan of editing just for the purpose of editing–but I feel like this series is a somewhat large financial investment given the return.

Anyway, I really am rambling now. To put it more succinctly, these books are worth reading, but something seems to be missing. And I’m not sure I am going to find it.

I wonder if I’ll come back to this book after reading the rest of the trilogy and like it even more. You’ve read the synopsis, so I won’t bother to repeat it here. I will, however, echo what has been said in previous reviews. The book is beautifully written, surreal, uncanny. It’s an easy read, and you’ll finish it in a few days. But as much as I liked the book, I didn’t love it as much as I wanted to. I’m honestly not sure why. The book seemed empty, in a way. Sorta like when you go to a fancy restaurant and the presentation is stunning but there isn’t all that much food? I need a little bit more meat and potatoes in my diet. Still, well worth the read, and I am excited about the next one.

Buy Annihilation here.

Don’t know that I agree with all of it, but an interesting take on That Which Should Not Be on Skullbanger Media. Check it out.

I reviewed Lucky’s Girl a few weeks ago and found it to be a stunning work of the darkest horror I’ve read in some time. Think you will agree. Buy it here, and check out my review here

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To sum it up in one sentence–Jade Sky is a fun novel. It’s action packed from the get go and never really lets up. The first in what appears to be a series, author Patrick Freivald has obviously put a lot of thought into the world he is trying to build. Because of that complexity, the first few chapters are confusing and a couple border on almost too conveniently expositional, but readers are encouraged to stick with it. Once Jade Sky hits its groove, it’s off to the races.

Some may be put off by the violence and the gore, but if so, why are you reading this book in the first place? You know what you are getting, and Jade Sky gives it to you. Frankly, that’s why I gave it five stars. Jade Sky does exactly what it seeks to do, and does it well. Is it as good as Freivald’s Twice Shy? Not quite. That book was, in my view nearly perfect. The plot in Jade Sky, while terrific, isn’t quite as good, and the characterizations pale in comparison. This is, after all, an action novel at heart. But when toe-to-toe to other similar thrillers? Jade Sky shines.

If you love action, if you love thrillers, if you love a little sci-fi magic, don’t let Jade Sky pass you by.

There are few people in the literary community I have more respect for than Dr. Michael Collings. Which is why I was very honored to read this review of The Reborn. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. 

While The Reborn might lack the Lovecraftian touches readers of Talley’s other works have so enjoyed, it is nevertheless a more-than-solid work of speculative fiction, new in its approach to contemporary issues and captivating in its forays into a near-future world.

 

Highly recommended.

I’ll be posting a couple reviews in the next few days–Jade Sky by Patrick Freivald and Ludky’s Girl by William Holloway. (if you just can’t wait, they are both up on Goodreads already). Spoiler alert–both books are among the best I’ve read this year. Stoker worthy thrillers. In fact, take out the among. And that includes Neuromancer. Which isn’t saying a whole lot, but still…

You are Providence.

You got a little over a day left to purchase this amazing collection of nine horror novels by some of the best in the business.

And after you pick them up, go ask the authors a question over at Reddit Horror.