Category Archives: Book Review
Book Review: The Book of Cthulu – edited by Ross Lockheart
Edited by @lossrockheart
Find the title on Amazon where you can also read a full description of the book and about the editor.
I read the kindle version of this book even though I had picked up a copy at WFC2011. I had the pleasure of meeting Ross Lockheart there and he tolerated my presence at his booth multiple times. I was given a copy of this e-book and I was not paid for this review. The opinions expressed are my own.
I don’t usually read horror, but I’ve read a lot of H.P. Craft and Stephen King over there years and I also enjoy Scott Sigler and Paul E. Cooley. I have always preferred horror that creeps me out instead of being over the top blood baths. If you want to entertain me, scare me. Don’t just try to make me jump.
I’m a sucker when it comes to reading a Lovecraft inspired stories because normally they’ll make you think hard about the horror. There is a lot of fiction out there allegedly inspired by Lovecraft and much of it is not good, sad to say. It takes a lot of reading to find those true gems.
With The Book of Cthulu, Ross has done that work for me. He’s taken the best of the past and added a couple new tales, combining them into a tome that when dropped could waken the old gods. This thing is huge and filled cover to cover with scary, creepy goodness that will have you itching your skin, clawing at the walls, and begging to be released from the mortal coil. Once you delve into the book, you’re thrown into a maelstrom of stories that runs the gamut of classic tales that you might have seen before or, if you’re like me, missed when they came around the first time.
Once inside you’re taken away from the normal day-to-day and swept across the globe with horror tales that will have the hair on the back of your neck standing on end, force you to look out the window from several feet away, and not wanting to open that closet door. Ross has done a wonderful job getting the best of the best together in one collection.
But wait, there’s more. I only recently noticed that there will be a second collection! Oh Ross, how I hate you as I have already pre-ordered my copy and will be along on a second journey back into the mind of Lovecraft. The Book of Cthulu II comes out in October!
Book Review: Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian by Michael Stackpole
Find the title on Amazon where you can also read a full description of the book and about the author.
I was not given my copy of the book. I was not asked to or paid to write this review.
I consider myself a Conan fan. I’ve read many of Robert E Howard’s books. I read the Marvel comics. I even read a couple of Robert Jordan’s Conan novels. And of course I’ve seen all the movies.
I’m a fan, not a fanatic. I know much about Conan lore, but I couldn’t recite the Hyborian Knowledge as many could. I just enjoy a good read and Conan can provide that.
I’m also a fan of Mike Stackpole. I enjoy his works and his writing style. I have read several of his books and have more on my to read pile.
I saw that the Conan movie was about to come out and I knew that Stackpole was going to write the novelization. I grabbed it for my kindle as soon as it was available. I love technology. I didn’t, however, start reading until after I had seen the movie. Too many times I’ve been disappointed by a movie after reading the book.
Sadly the new Conan movie was lacking. It was a shallow representation of Conan lore. It seemed like a minor transition from big fight scene to big fight scene. There was little development of the character. At least with the Arnold movies we had a running dialog to fill in many holes.
I worried that the book would also be lacking, but knowing Michael, I dove into the book. At first I was confused. It didn’t start where the movie started. I didn’t mind though. I didn’t need a long explanation of Conan being born on the battlefield. In great Stackpolean fashion, he brought Conan’s birth into the novel through conversation. Something the movie lacked a lot of was conversation and Michael brought that into the novel.
He also brought us the Conan history that Howard always had in his stories. That background needed to fill in so many gaps left in the movie. Where the movie failed, the novel succeeded. I finished the book quickly, finding it difficult to put down. It was such an enjoyable read. I can only hope that Michale Stackpole is allowed to revisit this universe and continue on the Conan tradition. After reading this book, he’s earned the right.
Book Review: ShatnerQuake
ShatnerQuake by Jeff Burk
Find the title on Amazon where you can also read a full description of the book and about the author.
I met Jeff Burk at WFC2011. Silly me, I bought the book from him and completely forgot to have him sign it. Ah well. This will push me to attend another con where I may be able to meet him again and have him sign my copy.
I was not given my copy of the book. I was not asked to or paid to write this review.
What prompted me to pick up this book was William Shatner? William Shatner. William Shatner! And a Captain Kirk holding a light saber. Well, that and speaking with Jeff was a lot of fun. I’m glad I picked up this book.
From start to finish this book was a fun romp. Yes, it was a quick read, but it was a fun, quick read. I’m sure Jeff had to do some research into all the variations of Shatner, but I’m getting ahead of my self.
The book finds William (Bill) attending ShatnerCon. A convention in his honor. Outside are Campbellians protesting. Those would be fans of Bruce Campbell. In the first couple of chapters, a fiction bomb is set off and every variation of William Shatner comes to life. Yes, in the middle of a convention. And the real William Shatner must deal with confused fans, Campbellians, and Shatners. More shatners than you can shake a bat’leth at.
I really enjoyed this book. Like I said, it was a lot of fun. I expected a funny, twisted tale and Jeff Burk delivered. If you’re a fan of the Shat, and you’re looking for more William Shatner than you may really want, check out ShatnerQuake. It’s just plain weird fun.
Book Review – Broken Time Blues: Fantastic Tales in the Roaring ’20s
Broken Time Blues: Fantastic Tales in the Roaring ’20s
Edited by @JaymGates and @ErikaHolt
Find the title on Amazon where you can also read a full description of the book and about the editors.
I read the kindle version of this book even though I had picked up a copy (and had it signed by at World Fantasy Con). I had the pleasure of meeting Jaym and Erika there as well. I was not given a copy of this book and I was not paid for this review. The opinions expressed are my own.
The idea of Spec-Fic from the 1920s intrigued me. At first, due to my own ignorance of the era, had assumed that each story would be filled with bathtub gin, rum runners, and speakeasys. Perhaps something about the depression.
I was wrong. Sure some of those elements were present, but the stories ran the gamut from magical to fantastic to out of this world. The authors (and editors) did their homework. I’m a stickler for details and when something feels out of place, I have a tendency to look something up. I only ran into a couple of snags that once I stopped, looked up the detail, I was pleasantly surprised to find the story accurate.
Aside from the details, the collection of stories were consistently different in tone, atmosphere, theme, and even locale. From the mean streets of Chicago, to a backwoods distillery, each story kept up a great pace to make the book a fun and fast read. Usually with a collection you’ll run across one story that runs across the grain, but with this collection I was surprised that each flowed well from one to the next.
I’d be hard pressed to choose just one story out of the batch that I’d call my favorite. As I look over the list I keep thinking, oh, I really liked this part of this story, and I liked this one a lot. This story was fun, and that story started out gritty, but gave me hope at the end. To be honest, I love this collection as a whole. I highly recommend this collection. For only $2.99 for the kindle edition, it’s a steal! Grab it. Read it. Enjoy it.
J.R. Murdock 