plus, we Review Shootin’ the Sh*t with Kevin Smith

This week’s releases are segmented into two categories:  fiction and non-fiction.  Because it is such a light week there wasn’t much need to separate them into their usual categories.  When you have months with five release weeks in them, ultimately one week is light, and couple that with it’s a holiday week and there’s not much new this week.  However, if you are a fan of the classic horror films of the Universal or Hammer studios, then this week has your name written all over it.   

McFarland & Co. has two new books out spotlighting the Hammer legends Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing.  In the reviews section, I have a review of Titan Books’ “Hammer Glamour” which spotlight the many gorgeous starlets who appeared in Hammer films over the years.  I also have reviews of Terry Brook’s “World of Shannara” and “Shootin’ the Sh*t with Kevin Smith”. 

Another title I’m excited about is Boom Studios’ adaptation of the upcoming horror film “Jennifer’s Body” starring Megan Fox.  The film is sure to be a hit and Boom is simply my favorite independent comic publisher who does a great job with everything they put out.

New in Fiction 

Footprints (Rogue Angel) by Alex Archer (Gold Eagle)

When her longtime friend claims to have evidence of Big Foot's existence, archaeologist Annja Creed can't resist checking it out for herself—she's been debating the subject for years. Annja's curiosity leads her deep into the woods of the Pacific Northwest, to meet Jenny where the supposed trail has been left by the one and only Sasquatch.

But when Annja arrives at the destination, a group of armed thugs warn her to leave the area, and her friend is nowhere to be found. Now the search for Sasquatch turns into a rescue mission, and Annja has only her instincts to guide her in a forest full of predators, scavengers and spirits. And someone, or something, does not want her there….  
 

The Serrano Succession by Elizabeth Moon (Baen Trade) 

Two Full-Length Novels of Space Adventure:  

Change of Command: Esmay and Barin are reconciled—but their universe is falling apart! The exposure of defective rejuvenation drugs has sent fear sweeping across the known galaxy, including the Regular Space Service, while neighboring states fear the aggressive expansion of the Familias Regnant. Fear begets violent reactions—from foreign governments, from great Families determined to hold on to power, from internal rivalries in the Fleet—and nothing escapes the resultant bloodbath unscathed, including Esmay and Barin.  

Against the Odds: The worst has happened: Fleet is tearing itself apart. Some of the mutineers see injustice in the unequal spread of the rejuvenation drugs that offer virtual immortality to the rich; others are simply thirsty for power, or for blood. But when Esmay Suiza-Serrano is unceremoniously booted out of Fleet, the apparent victim of Family politics, she has no idea of the conflict into which she has been thrown. As the noose tightens on galactic civilization, great battles will be fought and greater loves affirmed . . . and old friends will meet their destinies.   

The Ask and the Answer: Chaos Walking: Book Two by Patrick Ness (Candlewick Hardcover) 

Reaching the end of their tense and desperate flight in THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO, Todd and Viola did not find healing and hope in Haven. They found instead their worst enemy, Mayor Prentiss, waiting to welcome them to New Prentisstown. There they are forced into separate lives: Todd to prison, and Viola to a house of healing where her wounds are treated. Soon Viola is swept into the ruthless activities of the Answer, aimed at overthrowing the tyrannical government. Todd, meanwhile, faces impossible choices when forced to join the mayor’s oppressive new regime. In alternating narratives — Todd’s gritty and volatile; Viola’s calmer but equally stubborn — the two struggle to reconcile their own dubious actions with their deepest beliefs. Torn by confusion and compromise, suspicion and betrayal, can their trust in each other possibly survive?  

Borderline Volume 3 by Carlos Trillo (Dynamite Entertainment Graphic Novel) 

Pulp noir in the tradition of Sin City and 100 Bullets from creator/artist Eduardo Risso! Known for his moody powerful artwork Eduardo Risso has commanded a legion of fans from his work on 100 Bullets (with writer Brian Azzarello who also provides and exclusive intro to this collection) and Batman among others! But until now fans have never experienced the raw power and vision of Borderline (with writer Chris Trillo)! Borderline, originally published in Italy, is a 600-page epic created by Risso and Trillo with whom the artist has previously worked on a slate of other projects. This powerful piece of graphic fiction has never before been available in the United States in English. Now Borderline -- described by Harvey and Eisner Award winning creator Risso as a sci-fi post-apocalyptic story that openly shows the miseries and kindness of Humankind -- is available in English for the first time. 

Jennifer's Body by Rick Spears (Boom! Studios Graphic Novel) 

The movie event of the Fall is the comic book event of this Summer!  JUNO's award-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody brings you JENNIFER'S BODY starring Megan Fox as a demonically-possessed cheerleader with a taste for killing teenage boys!  In this original graphic novel that ties into the movie and expands on its universe, BLACK METAL's Rick Spears brings you even more hellish Jennifer stories with art by HACK/SLASH's Tim Seely, THE CLERKS Jim Mahfood, DMZ's Nikki Cook and POPGUN's Ming Doyle.

Soleil: Universal War One - Revelations Premiere HC by Denis Bajram (Marvel Comics Hardcover) 

The Purgatory Squadron's survivors have done the impossible; by traveling through time they've shut down the impenetrable Wall that cut the solar system in two. In doing so, they've discovered that the rebellious Colonization Industrial Companies have hidden a satellite in Earth's orbit that could destroy the planet just as the CIC eradicated Uranus. But the Purgatory Squadron has a trump card. Now stranded three days in their own past, they just might be able to return to Earth without notice. That gives the team of outcasts and criminals three days to stop a cataclysm that could bring about the first universal war. Collects Soleil: Universal War One - Revelations #1-3. 

New in Non-Fiction 

Peter Cushing: The Gentle Man of Horror and His 91 Films by Deborah Del Vecchio (McFarland) 

From his film debut in "The Man in the Iron Mask" (1939) through "Biggles" (1985), the career and the movies of Peter Cushing, known as 'the gentle man of horror', are examined. Using interviews and extensive personal correspondence, the authors provide Cushing's own views on many of his 91 films. A plot synopsis for each film is followed by production and cast credits, year produced and alternate titles. Also included are contemporary reviews of Cushing's work. 

Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing and Horror Cinema: A Filmography of Their 22 Collaborations by Mark A. Miller  (Mcfarland) 

From their first pairing in "Hamlet" (1948) to their roles in "House of the Long Shadows" (1983), Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing have enjoyed the most successful collaboration in horror film history. Each of their 22 film collaborations is examined in detail, including plot synopses and critical commentary. A comprehensive filmography of their films together provides release date, running time, studio, production information and full cast and credits. The original research is supported by interviews with both Lee and Cushing, along with fellow performers and production personnel, such as Hazel Court, Robert Bloch, and Patrick Macnee. 

Universal Studios Monsters: A Legacy of Horror by Michael Mallory (Universe Hardcover) 

From the 1920s through the 1950s, Universal Studios was Hollywood’s number one studio for horror pictures, haunting movie theaters worldwide with Dracula, Frankenstein, and the Creature from the Black Lagoon, among others. Universal Studios Monsters: A Legacy of Horror explores all of these enduring characters, chronicling both the mythology behind the films and offering behind-the-scenes insights into how the films were created. Universal Studios Monsters is the most complete record of the horror films of this legendary studio, with biographies of major personalities who were responsible for the most notable monster melodramas in film history. The stories of these films and their creators are told through interviews with surviving actors and studio employees. A lavish photographic record, including many behind-the-scenes shots, completes the story of how these classics were made. This is a volume no fan of imaginative cinema will want to be without.

Reviews

Shootin’ the Sh*t with Kevin Smith  (Titan Books) 

There aren’t many people who I can listen to talk for a couple of hours and even fewer I’d pay to hear talk…but Kevin Smith is one of those few.  Intelligent, irreverent, and down-to-earth, Smith is a regular guy…like one of your own buddies and he has an ability to endear himself to you almost immediately.  This book collects transcripts from 80 of the podcast (known as Smodcast) with his good friend and producer Scott Mosier. 

Often vulgar but always hilarious, Smith and Mosier, along with a handful of their friends, including Smith’s wife Jennifer, discuss subjects as diverse as steak tartare, flea-market shopping, Helen Keller, Santa Claus, night baseball, and Stalin’s monkey army.  One of Kevin’s classic stories comes from the shooting of “Dogma” when he and Alanis Morissette are out for a late night walk and end up in a not-so-pleasant part of town.  As a stranger crosses the street towards him, Kevin begins panicking, sure they’re about to get mugged and ready to sacrifice his co-star to save himself. 

In another story, Kevin and friend Walt Flanagan are at a flea market where Walt haggles with an elderly lady over a New Jersey Devils highlight VHS tape.  Smith absolutely nails the vendors who sell at flea markets to a “T”.  The merchandise is almost always junk but priced like priceless artifacts. 

Be advised that the language is quite harsh but it’s achingly funny and one of those kind of books that you can just pickup and thumb to any part and start reading.  Grade A 

The World of Shannara by Terry Brooks & Teresa Patterson  (Del Rey Hardcover) 

When Terry Brooks’s “Sword of Shannara” was published in 1977 it became an instant bestseller.  While rightly criticized for being derivative of Lord of the Rings, Brooks followed it up with some twenty more novels that distanced itself from Tolkien and placed Brooks at the top echelon of modern fantasy authors.   

World of Shannara (completely updated edition) is basically an encyclopedia and atlas to the world of Shannara, detailing the people, places, and events of his fantasy milieu.  In nearly 300 pages you get a look at the sprawling landscape that is the Shannara epic from the time of the earliest Druid, Bremen, to Allanon and Walker Boh.  The book takes you not only through the original Shannara trilogy but the sequels and prequels that make up Brook’s distinct mythology. 

One chapter that is welcome is “Rediscovering the Old World”.  This chapter, and the one of “The Fall of the Old World” are the final two in the book but they tie together Brooks’ modern “World/Void” trilogy as the true and earliest prequel to the events in Sword of Shannara.  You might even begin with these two chapters and then return to the beginning of the book to read “The Old World and the Great Wars” 

The book delves into the many mysterious characters of Shannara’s books such as The King of the Silver River, The Stone King, The Morgawr, and the Dagda Mor.  It extensively covers the rise of the Druids and the establishment of Paranor, the Druid’s Keep.  Illustrations by David Cherry and Rop Alexander give a face to the many creatures and characters of Shannara and exquisitely detailed maps top everything off.  As detailed as it is, it seems like even a near 300 page book isn’t enough to do Shannara justice and some entries seem slight.  For Shannara fans it’s the perfect complement to the novels.  Grade B+

Hammer Glamour by Marcus Hearn  (Titan Books Hardcover) 

In the 1950s, the Hammer Studios literally revived the horror genre with modern takes on Frankenstein, Dracula, and the mummy.  The studio made stars out of actors Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee.  Besides producing some of the best horror films of the 50s and 60s, Hammer was also noted for the many gorgeous actresses who starred in the films.  These ranged from women making their film debuts to established screen stars.  The entries feature biographical information about each actress, career highlights, information about their main Hammer Film’s roles, an update on what they are up to today, and comments from the stars themselves.   

Hammer Glamour profiles over fifty of these stars with outstanding archival photography taken both from the films as well as publicity and modeling shots. Up first is one of the great sex symbols of the 1960s, Ursula Andress, who starred in the 1965 Hammer epic, “She”.  Known best for her role in the James Bon film “Dr. No”, Andress posed nude for Playboy Magazine to help promote “She” although she would comment in 2002 that she was forced to do the film.  Stephanie Beacham played one of the sexiest roles ever seen in a Dracula film when she starred as Jessica Van Helsing, granddaughter to Peter Cushing in “Dracula A.D. 1972.   

Over the years Hammer introduced many new exotic European actresses in their films including Finland’s Carita (The Viking Queen); Poland’s Ingrid Pitt (The Vampire Loves); Norway’s Julie Ege (Creatures the World Forgot); Hungary’s Edina Ronay (Slave Girls); and Denmarks Yutte Stensgaard (Lust for a Vampire). 

I would be remiss if I did not mention two of the hottest starlets to ever grace the silver screen also cut their teeth in Hammer films.  70s genre star icon Caroline Munroe starred in a couple of Hammer films including “Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter and The vivacious Raquel Welch whose fur-covered bikini from “One Million B.C.” is still an iconic film image today. 

Most of these women did not go on to become big stars, in fact most had their film careers fizzle out.  But they will always be remembered for their roles in some of the best…and worst Hammer films in history.  Grade A