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 Plus: We Review the chilling
“House of Lost Souls”
The biggest release this week is no doubt
Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, the sequel to the year’s
surprise best-seller, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.
This time the Jane Austen novel of classical literature (re: the crap
you were forced to read in High School for no good reason) is combined
with sea monster hysterics to create another sure-fire hit.
The other book I’m very excited about
this week is The Improbable Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
This anthology features stories by some of the best writers in fantasy
and horror, offering up their own unique takes on the world’s most
famous detective. The roll-list includes: Stephen King,
Neil Gaiman, Michael Moorcock, Tanith Lee and more! With that
line-up of talent this book looks like it will be a helluva treat to
read!
Mythangelus by Storm Constantine (Immanion
Press)
Angels dark and light have inspired Storm
Constantine throughout her writing life. In Mythangelus, all of her
stories with an angelic theme, or inspired by angel mythos, are collected
for the first time. This includes two Wraeththu stories, 'By the River
of If Only' and 'Paragenesis' - as the Wraeththu novels were originally
inspired by magical angelic legends. Included too are 'Fireborn', and
'The Feet, They Dance', pieces that were written while Storm was working
on her Grigori trilogy, which are tales inspired by the myths of the
Fallen Angels and the Nephilim. 'A Change of Season' is the short story
that eventually became the opening chapters of 'Stalking Tender Prey',
the first in the Grigori series, and 'Heir to a Tendency' features the
lead Grigori character of Peverel Othman, years before his feet led
him to Little Moor and the events of the first novel.
 Merlin's Dragon: Doomraga's Revenge by
T. A. Barron (Philomel Hardcover)
Basil becomes Merlin's partner as they
battle the mysterious shadows that threaten the new Avalon. A
dark magic has been spreading across Avalon. Initially, the events seemed
unrelated: a war in Fireroot between the dwarves and the fire dragons,
blight in Stoneroot, and disputes throughout the realms. But as Merlin
and Basil scour the realms, they begin to realize that looming behind
the growing chaos is a single dark threat—an enemy that they’ve
never encountered. One that must be stopped before all of Avalon is
lost.
In this jaw-dropping sequel to the mega-hit
MerlinÂ’s Dragon, T. A. Barron sends Merlin, Rhia, and Basil, the
greatest dragon ever, on a mission across Avalon to root out this new
enemy. But sacrifices will be made, relationships will be tested, and
precious lives will be lost.
 The Improbable Adventures of Sherlock
Holmes (Night Shade Books)
Doyle's novels and stories. But Conan
Doyle didn't reveal all of the Great Detective's adventures...Here are
some of the best Holmes pastiches of the last 30 years, twenty-eight
tales of mystery and the imagination detailing Holmes's further exploits,
as told by many of today's greatest storytellers, including Stephen
King, Anne Perry, Anthony Burgess, Neil Gaiman, Naomi Novik, Stephen
Baxter, Tanith Lee, Michael Moorcock, and many more.
These are the improbable adventures of
Sherlock Holmes, where nothing is impossible, and nothing can be ruled
out. In these cases, Holmes investigates ghosts, curses, aliens, dinosaurs,
shapeshifters, and evil gods. But is it the supernatural, or is there
a perfectly rational explanation? You won't be sure, and neither
will Holmes and Watson as they match wits with pirates, assassins, con
artists, and criminal masterminds of all stripes, including some familiar
foes, such as their old nemesis, Professor Moriarty.
In these pages you'll also find our heroes
crossing paths with H. G. Wells, Lewis Carroll, and even Arthur Conan
Doyle himself, and you'll be astounded to learn the truth behind cases
previously alluded to by Watson but never before documented until now.
The Other Lands (Acacia, Book 2) by David
Anthony Durham (Doubleday Hardcover)
A few years have passed since the conquering
of the Mein, and Queen Corinn is firmly in control of the Known World--perhaps
too firmly. With plans to expand her empire, she sends her brother,
Daniel, on an exploratory mission to the Other Lands. There Daniel discovers
a lush, exotic mainland ruled by an alliance of tribes that poses a
grave danger to the stability of the Known World. Is Queen Corinn strong
enough to face this new challenge? Readers of this bold, imaginative
sequel will not be disappointed in the answer.
 The Return Of The Sorcerer: The Best
Of Clark Ashton Smith (Prime Books)
Selected carefully by well-respected
editor Robert Weinberg and with an introduction by award-winning author
Gene Wolfe, The Return of the Sorcerer: The Best of Clark Ashton Smith
offers both readers and scholars a definitive collection of short fiction
and short novels, by an overlooked master of fantasy, horror and science-fiction.
New In Sci-Fi
Writers of the Future Volume 25
(Galaxy Press)
Writers of the Future (WOTF) is a science
fiction and fantasy story contest that was originated by L. Ron Hubbard
in the early 1980s. Hubbard characterized the contest as a way of "giving
back" to the field that had defined his professional writing life.
The contest has no entry fee and is the highest-paying contest for amateur
science-fiction and fantasy writers. Notable past winners of WOTF include
Stephen Baxter, Karen Joy Fowler, James Alan Gardner, Nina Kiriki Hoffman,
Jay Lake, Michael H. Payne, Patrick Rothfuss, Robert Reed, Dean Wesley
Smith, Sean Williams, Dave Wolverton and David Zindell. The winning
stories are published in the yearly anthology L. Ron Hubbard Presents
Writers of Future. The contest enjoys a favorable reputation in the
science fiction community.
Don't Panic: Douglas Adams & The
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Neil Gaiman (Titan Books)
Upon publication, Don’t Panic quickly
established itself as the definitive companion to Adams and The Hitchhiker’s
Guide to the Galaxy. This edition comes up to date, covering the movie,
And Another Thing by Eoin Colfer and the build up to the 30th anniversary
of the first novel. Acclaimed author Neil Gaiman celebrates the
life and work of Douglas Adams who, in a field in Innsbruck in 1971,
had an idea that became The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. The
radio series that started it all, the five — soon to be six — book
‘trilogy’, the TV series, almost-film and actual film, and everything
in between.
 Star Trek: A Comic Book History by Alan
J. Porter (Hermes Press)
Now for the first time the complete history
of the Star Trek universe in comic books and newspaper strips from all
over the world. Written by pop-culture historian Alan J. Porter, author
of the bestselling James Bond: The History of the Illustrated 007, this
book will be the definitive history on the subject. Nine information-packed
chapters detailing the history of Star Trek in comic books and newspaper
strips from the first Gold Key comic books, to the English newspaper
strip, to the Marvel and DC titles, to the present day. Exhaustively
covers all publications of the entire Star Trek universe. Includes creator
interviews, unpublished artwork and a detailed checklist. Published
to coincide with the release of the new Star Trek movie. Boldly goes
where no book has gone before!
New In Horror
The World Is Dead by Kim Paffenroth (Permuted
Press)
The end of the world has come and gone.
The dead have risen, and they've won. No more rallying of the troops.
No miracle cure or weapon. Just lots of dead people walking around.
If the living dead won, what would the world be like? This collection
of eighteen tales-including entries from David Wellington, Jack Ketchum,
and Gary A. Braunbeck-take up the call to answer that question. People
go to work. Have sex. Get drunk. Fall in love. Take revenge. Raise families.
Watch TV. Laugh. Mourn. Murder. Pray. The world is dead, but life goes
on.
Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters
by Jane Austen & Ben H. Winters (Quirk books)
From the publisher of Pride and Prejudice
and Zombies comes a new tale of romance, heartbreak, and tentacled mayhem.
Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters
expands the original text of the beloved Jane Austen novel with all-new
scenes of giant lobsters, rampaging octopi, two-headed sea serpents,
and other biological monstrosities. As our story opens, the Dashwood
sisters are evicted from their childhood home and sent to live on a
mysterious island full of savage creatures and dark secrets. While sensible
Elinor falls in love with Edward Ferrars, her romantic sister Marianne
is courted by both the handsome Willoughby and the hideous man-monster
Colonel Brandon. Can the Dashwood sisters triumph over meddlesome matriarchs
and unscrupulous rogues to find true love? Or will they fall prey to
the tentacles that are forever snapping at their heels? This masterful
portrait of Regency England blends Jane Austen’s biting social commentary
with ultraviolent depictions of sea monsters biting. It’s survival
of the fittest—and only the swiftest swimmers will find true love!
 Zomnibus Volume 1 (IDW Graphic
Novel)
They stalk, they rot, they eat flesh,
they're the walking dead for Pete's sake. What's not to love about zombies?!
Well, it's not all fun and yucks as this collection of three zombies
tales will show, ranging from the seriously scary "Feast!"
to the urban sprawl "Eclipse of the Undead," and finally ending
with the surreal stylings of the one-and-only Ashley Wood in "The
Complete Zombies vs. Robots."
 Bite Marks: A Vampire Testament by Terence
Taylor (St. Martin’s)
A teenage runaway is killed by a sadistic
vampire with the pathology of a serial killer, who has stalked her family
for over a decade. Brought back to life to feed on her child,
she’s killed again -- but not before reviving her first victim, her
firstborn. The undead infant escapes, triggering a citywide search
for a vampire baby whose existence threatens to expose the entire vampire
society. And they will stop at nothing to make sure that doesn’t happen.
In the downtown art world/club scene
of New York City, Steven and Lori, an artist and a writer, are in the
middle of a bad break up. Instead of being able to simply move
on, they are stuck with each other, bound by a contract to do a book
on vampires. When they stumble across the real thing, will their
feelings for each other intensify as they're reunited to battle monsters
they scarcely believe exist?
 The Golden Labyrinth: The Unique Films
of Guillermo Del Toro by Steve Earles (Noir)
The Golden Labyrinth is the first comprehensive
study of the films of Guillermo del Toro. Extensively researched, and
presented in an entertaining and readable fashion synonymous with Noir
Publishing, The Golden Labyrinth covers all del Toro s work to date,
but goes further, covering their inspirations, genesis, and production.
Going further than a typical film book, The Golden Labyrinth explores
such diverse inspirations as the work of the alchemists that inspired
the Cronos Device of del Toro s full-length debut, the terrible events
of the Spanish Civil War that underlay some of his most critically acclaimed
work, and the Celtic mythology that provides the beating heart of Hellboy
II, to name but three. Del Toro is the future of 21st century fantasy
film, with the forthcoming production of the Peter Jackson produced
The Hobbit, del Toro will become the North Star that future filmmakers
will follow. Yet despite the enormity of the project, del Toro still
has several diverse projects in development, as both producer, and writer/director.
While Hollywood contents itself with endless recycling of ideas long
worn out, del Toro s only problem is so many ideas, not enough time
to make them all. Inspired by his upbringing in Mexico, and by the stories
told to him by his grandmother, del Toro is first and foremost a master
storyteller, whether as writer, director, artist or producer, he serves
his inner muse, not caring about box office returns (and thus, ironically,
producing them). But, as with his films, there are further depths to
the man, for he uses his films not to escape from our reality but to
make sense of it.
Reviews
 House of Lost Souls by G.G. Cottam
(St. Martin’s)
House of Lost Souls is an atmospheric
haunted house story in the grand tradition of the genre as set forth
by the likes of M.R. James and Shirley Jackson. Cottam injects
a sheer, overpowering sense of dread, however, that calls to mind the
best of Lovecraft’s psychological horror and the madness that infects
those who encounter it.
Paul Seaton is a journalist who years
earlier experienced first had the terrors of the Fisher House, a home
once own by a Nazu sympathizer and acquaintance of Aleister Crowley.
Paul’s experience in the house leaves him a wreck of a man and yet
the distinction of the only person to have survived the terrors in the
notorious home. Years later, several college students make a tragic
outing to the house leaving them all dead except for the sister of Nick
Mason, a former U.S. soldier. Nick tracks down Seaton as the man
who lived through the terror of the house. He intends to get to
the bottom of the abominable evil and destroy if once and for all.
House of Souls builds meticulously, if
somewhat slowly, with Paul relating his own trials in the Fisher House
to Mason in lengthy flashback sequences. While the story crawls
at times Cottam provides enough jolts to hook your attention.
British popular music plays a key role throughout the book as Seaton
remains haunted by songs on the radio by artists who have either committed
suicide or died in some other tragic manner. The final third of
the book literally percolates with a tense and terrifying ambiance that
few writers are able to capture. Grade B+
 Stalking the Dragon by Mike Resnick
(Pyr)
In Mike Resnick’s latest John Justin
Mallory’s latest mystery/fantasy, the private detective is contracted
to find a very important dragon. How hard can it be to find a
dragon you say? Well when this dragon is only about twelve inches
long, it can be pretty difficult. This is a star dragon, favored
to win the Eastminster pet show, and someone has dragon-napped poor
“Fluffy”.
Mallory immediately suspects the demon
known as “The Grundy” since his Chimera would be the next favorite
to win the show. Despite being a demon an all, The Grundy is known
for its honesty and when he tells Mallory that he didn’t take the
pet, John Justin is back at square one, having to flesh out clues in
this fantasy version of Manhattan.
Resnick’s alternative Manhattan is
filled with dragons, trolls, goblins, and all matter of typical fantasy
creatures, even a talking cell phone who has a crush on John, and all
of them seem hellbent on giving Mallory a hard time. At 277 pages,
Stalking the dragon is a lightning fast read, made all the more brisk
due to the fact is heavily laden with dialog which is filled sarcastic
wit, innuendo, and puns that rattle off in machinegun fashion.
Not all of them hit their mark but there’s so many that hardy a page
goes by that doesn’t give the reader at least a moderate chuckle or
smirk.
While many of today’s fantasy detectives
take a more serious tone in their adventures, Resnick’s John Justin
Mallory is a mix of Raymond Chandler meets Rodney Dangerfield or Henny
Youngman or…well just insert the wisecracking comedian of your choice.
And the mystery is darn good as well! Grade A-
 Dark Entries by Ian Rankin (Vertigo Comics
Graphic Novel)
Dark Entries is a part of the Vertigo
Crime series line of original graphic novels. Hardcover and black
and white, “Crime” isn’t quite the order of the day in this story.
This is a John Constantine: Hellblazer tale. Constantine is recruited
by the producer of a British reality TV series. The series puts
people into a supposedly haunted house and televises their reactions
for all to see. The only problem is, the latest contestants are
being haunted and the producers have not yet started to introduce their
special effects. Seems as if this really is a haunted house and
the house wants to play.
Constantine is recruited to go in and
investigate the house, all while under the guise of just being another
player in the game. Nothing is ever that easy for Constantine
and it isn’t long before John finds that there really is something
very wrong with the house, but he’s also been tricked into entering
the game. The contestants are all unwittingly duped into thinking
they can escape and John must fill them in on the game’s true tragic
endgame. But Constantine may be trapped for eternity in the house
himself.
Rankin’s story is a bit overlong for
my tastes. There are periods where characters just wander off
to explore the house while other characters just go and look for them
and it has the feeling of just being idle time to pad the story.
The main elements and the trap that Constantine has blindly, and all
too stupidly walked into are nicely done as John encounters a deadly
foe from his past. Constantine is one character that lends himself
to black & white and Werther Dell'Edera’s art gives the story
a noir-ish look. Not spectacular but a solid story. Grade
B- |
