The Senior Girls Bayonet Drill Team & Other Stories by Joe R. Lansdale

Joe R. Lansdale has always been one of my go-to authors when I need something “different.” In this book, he mentions that he likes writing both novels and short stories but if he had to choose, he would write only short stories. His love for the form is on full display here and this collection offers some of his best.

Contrary to other reviews I’ve seen for this book, these are not all new stories. Most, according to the information at the back of the book, details where and when the stories first appeared. They range from horror ‘zines like “Fangoria” to popular anthologies to fairly obscure places like “Ferrari Magazine”. Quite a few, including the titular story, were originally published in various anthologies edited by Lawrence Block, which is where I first encountered them. Almost all the stories originated in the last five years.

As for the stories themselves, they vary widely in subject matter, scope, and from serious to silly. Some are gruesome horror pieces, some are intense crime stories, while others can best be described as fables. It’s hard for me to pick favorites but I think I’ll go with the weird westerns due to my own love for that sub-genre. By the way, I owe that love to Joe Lansdale who was among the first writers to delve into such tales back in the 1980s when such stories were still rare. As with any anthology, I enjoyed some of these stories more than others, but I can honestly say, there isn’t a stinker in the bunch. 

Lansdale fans will love this collection from Subterranean Press while those looking for a nice variety of high-quality, thoroughly enjoyable stories should absolutely check it out. It is due to be published in January, 2024.

Covenant with the Vampire by Jeanne Kalogridis

I’ve tended to shy away from vampire fiction in recent years although I am a huge fan of the original Dracula by Bram Stoker and stories that take place in a similar vein (no pun intended). In other words, I enjoy the historical fiction aspects of Dracula, vampire lore, etc. much more so than the blood/guts, sexual innuendo/love triangles etc. that seem so common today.

This novel is the first of a trilogy and fits my preferences very well. It takes place over the course of just a few weeks in 1845, which is actually about 50 years before the Dracula story occurs. It’s told from the first person POV of three separate individuals, Arkady Tsepesh, his young (and pregnant) bride Mary, and his sister, Zsuzsanna Tsepesh. It is through their detailed diary entries that the entire novel is presented and that method works very well for it allows the reader to access their innermost thoughts when they are confronted with evidence of the impossible. It also allows the characters to sneak in and read the others' diaries to gain a better foothold on what is happening (and convince themselves that they aren't going mad). 

The story takes a deep dive into the history of Vlad Dracul and the family tree as Arkady returns from England to his Carpathian home to bury his deceased father. But it is his uncle Vlad that begins the real horror of the story as it becomes evident who he really is. The pact or covenant that the family Dracul has with the local village population to protect them from the strigoi also plays center stage. What follows is pure vampire horror in the traditional gothic horror style as Arkady and his loving wife struggle in a war for their very souls.

I liked the writing style of the novel as it is very similar to the original Stoker style, reading like Victorian age literature. It drips with authenticity and while I am certainly no expert on all things Transylvanian, the language, the visual tapestry that the words paint, the place names and family names…it all seems perfect. The ending, to me, seemed a little abrupt as a very long build-up nose-dived off the cliff to a very quick conclusion. I would have preferred a little more meat to this part but, perhaps that is just me wishing the book wasn’t over yet. Nevertheless, it does set up the second book and the very real possibility that the plot may move to England.

I will eagerly turn my attention to the next two books of the trilogy.

The Living Dead - Edited by John Joseph Adams

For zombie literature neophytes, this is an excellent place to start because reading these stories can make one realize there are far more ways to think about zombies than what you may have experienced from George Romero or The Walking Dead. 

John Joseph Adams, as usual has put together a good mix of tales here.  Many are what I would term “literary” while others are heavier on action or the fear factor.  Like most anthologies, some stories are better than others but each one belongs here and serves to round out the sub-sub-genre of zombie horror.  Major authors like Stephen King, Clive Barker, Dan Simmons, Laurell K. Hamilton, Neil Gaiman, Joe Hill, and George RR Martin offer stories in this anthology but for my money, I tended to prefer the entries by those authors that were new to me.  There are a total of 34 stories included and it is difficult to name my favorites but among them are “This Year’s Class Picture” by Dan Simmons, “Followed” by Will McIntosh, and “How the Day Runs Down” by John Langan.

I read these stories at the rate of one per week, early on Saturday mornings before the rest of my family gets up which is always a good time for me to really get into a story.  I think if I had read one right after another, it would have grown tiresome pretty quickly.  For me this sort of story is best enjoyed in small doses. 

Overall a fairly nice collection of zombie fiction, especially if you prefer a more philosophical approach to the apocalypse. 

Slither by Edward Lee

Professor Nora Craig and her research assistant, Loren are America’s foremost authorities on the intricate study of worms. They’ve been chosen to accompany a National Geographic photographer and an Army Lieutenant onto an island off the Florida Keys in search of the rare “Scarlet Bristleworm”. What they find there is something all together different, a previously undiscovered worm which has the capability to grow extremely rapidly, can eat through metal and concrete, and likes to spawn eggs in moist warm places like human bodies. Two other small groups of island visitors have preceded the main foursome and have already discovered the horror to be found there. There is also a military presence on the island which leads us to believe they are conducting biological experiments.

The first three quarters of this novel is a pretty standard movie-of-the-week style horror yarn. Sort of a combo of a creature feature and swamp sleaze. The photographer is a young, beautiful girl who happens to be as promiscuous as can be so there are ample opportunities for sexual innuendo and teasing which morphs into full-on sex scenes. Later, as the worm infestation comes into fruition, the sex stuff morphs once again into gross-out sex, with all kinds of eggs, larvae, etc. leaking and oozing out of various orifices….ugh…you get the idea.

The final quarter of the novel seems to be a case of the author writing himself into a corner and seeking a solution that will make some kind of sense for how these worms came to be. I won’t spoil that in this review but suffice it to say that it mostly works as long as you can suspend every shred of disbelief in your brain. I did appreciate that the ignorant and arrogant souls on this island get what they deserve while the intelligent ones are able to rationally think through possibilities for survival. That doesn’t always happen in these sorts of stories.

I will likely read more of this author's stuff as I still have at least three more of his books on my shelf. But much like Richard Laymon's body of work, I'll need plenty of time between them to shower and recuperate, lest I go insane.

The Horror Stories of Robert E. Howard

Another fine collection of short stories from Robert E. Howard accompanied by some truly amazing artwork by Greg Staples. As I always do with these Del Rey collections, I read one story per week (with a few exceptions when I couldn’t resist the urge to read just one more) and thus it has taken me five full months to get through the collection. No doubt I will go into withdrawal now until I start the next set.

There are 60 items within, counting stories, poems, and unfinished fragments. There are, of course, horror elements in all 60 but the range of “horror” is quite vast. We are treated to everything from traditional supernatural tales, to occult horror, to psychological scares. Occasionally we encounter characters we’ve come across before, including Solomon Kane and Steve Costigan but for the most part these are all unique, stand-alone stories that demonstrate the amazing versatility of this gifted writer. There is even a story that ties in to HP Lovecraft’s Cthulhu mythos (not surprising given the pair’s well-known long-term correspondence).

No doubt I will return to these stories from time to time, just like my other REH collections. They never seem to get old.

Creature by John Saul

The small mountain town of Silverdale Colorado is perfect. A company town with perfect weather, perfect neighborly citizens, and the perfect high school with a perfect football team. It is to this perfect town, run by the corporate tech giant, Tarrentech, that the family of 16-year-old Mark Tanner moves; a promotion for his father and a chance to start again for Mark. Little does he know that such perfection comes at a cost. Due to a childhood sickness, Mark is now a short, skinny kid who avoids sports in favor of more scholarly pursuits but when faced with continual bullying from school, friends, and even his own dad, it becomes harder and harder to resist what the town, and the high school sports clinic has to offer.

I’ve tried two John Saul novels before and thought them “OK” but not particularly brag-worthy. But several of my reading friends have been urging me not to give up on him and so I dug this one out of my vast home library of unread books and gave him another try. Happily, I can report that this one surprised me quite nicely, keeping me engaged throughout with good narrative story-building. The character of Mark, especially, was well done and I think I will remember him for a long time to come. It’s not fine literature by any means but that's not what I was looking for when I picked it up to read.

Published in 1989, the plot of this novel makes full use of the dangers and fears of anabolic steroid abuse, vitamin enhancing therapies, etc. of the time. The novel takes things to extremes, of course, in order to create a truly horrifying story but just as in most good horror, it is the nature of humans and how we treat each other that is the real horror occurring.

The Hunter From the Woods by Robert McCammon

Having read Robert McCammon’s outstanding WWII/adventure/thriller/werewolf/spy novel The Wolf's Hour earlier this month I knew I had to find and read the “sequel” as soon as possible.  The character of Michael Gallatin and his story was just so rich with possibilities that I was thrilled to discover there was another book.  And, still, to this day, I have yet to read a disappointing book by Robert McCammon.

This book is not another novel, however. It is a collection of 6 stories, all very much connected to one another (as well as with the original novel) but each depicting a different episode in Michael’s intriguing life.  Essentially all six stories fill in his background, mostly taking place during the war itself and just prior to the current events of the first novel. The second story here, ‘The Man From London’ is fairly short but serves to illustrate how Michael is recruited by the British Secret Service for his unique talents. Three of the stories are fairly long, novellas really, and were easily my favorites due to the depth that the longer form allows the author to take the plot and the character. In addition, the answer to a burning, unanswered question from the original novel is answered in the last story of this book.

A definite must-read for McCammon fans. 

The Wolf's Hour by Robert R. McCammon

Robert McCammon has always provided me with great entertainment and this time around was no exception.  This is primarily a World War II spy novel wherein Michael Gallatin is on a mission to support the allied D-Day invasion by preventing a Nazi gas warfare scheme.  It’s a clever plot filled with adrenaline-charged action at every turn.  On its own, it would be a very nice thriller but the fact that Michael is also a werewolf makes this one a keeper.

In the hands of a lesser author I would be concerned that combining a werewolf story with a WWII spy novel would come across as hokey at best.  But in McCammon’s hands, it reads superbly.  Michael’s werewolf origin story is told through a series of lengthy flashback sections that not only stand on their own but provide some excellent emotional scenes that tie in well to the events of the spy story. It all works well together and despite its length (over 600 paperback small print pages in my copy) I polished it off quickly, fully absorbed every step of the way.

This is a stand-alone novel but thankfully, McCammon provided some additional material for us in the form of inter-linked short stories collected in a volume entitled, The Hunter from the Woods.  I made room on my shelves for that one as well just as soon as I closed the cover on this book. 

The Beast of Nightfall Lodge by S.A. Sidor

The follow-up to Fury From the Tomb begins in 1920, almost 35 years after the events of that first book. A mature Rom Hardy and Evangeline Waterson of the Institute for Singular Antiquities are reminiscing about prior adventures when Evangeline decides she wants to hear Rom’s version of one particular adventure having to do with a Beast at Nightfall Lodge back in 1890 in the mountains surrounding Raton New Mexico. The rest of the book describes that adventure in full detail.

This is a solid sequel to the first book, continuing the over-the-top plot and style. The main story involves a wealthy big-game hunter who seeks the ultimate kill. No not a human being…that’s been done to death. Instead, he hunts “the Beast”, a supernatural wendigo-type monster. To aid him in the hunt, he invites a number of guests to join in, including a huge hulking mountain man with a trained grizzly bear, a wild west gunslinger, a snake-oil salesman/inventor, a mute Native American, and a man claiming to be Billy the Kid (although the Kid had been killed by Pat Garrett several years previously -- sure looks like him though...). And of course, all four of Rom Hardy’s team from book one are invited as well. The prize for who can capture the Beast? The true and authentic golden calf idol from when Moses went up Mt Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments. Wouldn’t that be a fine addition to the Institute for Singular Antiquities!

What follows is a rollicking adventure mixed with gruesome horror, humor and supernatural injections of lycanthropy, séances, and resurrecting the dead. Once again, there is a lot of plot packed in to this one novel but somehow the author manages to make it a coherent story. It blends the best of Indiana Jones, the writings of H. P. Lovecraft, the weird-west genre, and classic Universal monster movies.

This is modern pulp adventure done right. It’s fun reading all the way through and I certainly hope there are more to come in this series.

Fury From the Tomb by S.A. Sidor

Romulus “Rom” Hardy is a young Egyptologist in 1886, working out of New York, and has just received an endowment to lead a team of discovery to the Valley of the Kings in Egypt.  Once there, the team makes a startling discovery including five coffins and an over-large sarcophagus.  But upon returning to the US, it is clear that a fabled curse is all too real.

Thus begins this first-in-a-series novel that strives to blend the best of Indiana Jones, the writings of H.P. Lovecraft, the weird-west genre, and classic Universal monster movies.  And, for the most part, it succeeds.  I love all these sorts of adventure fiction themes and styles so I may be a bit prejudice towards liking this book.  Throw in cursed Egyptian mummies, Mexican banditos, Chinese vampires, bloated slickened worms the size of silos, asps, killer train wrecks, horseback-riding grave eaters – one with a flamenco guitar! and much more and you start to get the idea of what a mash-up story this is.  About the only thing missing is a gang of undead Caribbean pirates.  Perhaps in book two…

One might think this was all just too much to cram into a single novel but I didn’t feel that way at all.  It’s written in a style that reminds me a lot of Lovecraft, especially the horror aspects, and I thought it all held together quite well.  But the addition of three other main characters really brings out the emotional humanity of the plot.  A pretty occultist librarian, a gun-toting rebel of the old west, and an orphaned Chinese busboy round out the cast and their teamwork is fun to watch develop.

I recognize this sort of over-the-top adventure novel is not for everyone.  But if you want to take a chance on a pulpy throwback to the classics of yesteryear, this would be a good one to try.  The main story does conclude in this volume but it is easy to see how other books could flow forth. 

I’m looking forward to number two in the series. 

The Vanishing by Bentley Little

Social worker Carrie Daniels and LA Times reporter Brian Howells each find themselves involved with something…sinister. Somebody in each of their orbits displays unique physical characteristics. Bizarre abnormalities. One person might have the face of a lama while another has scales and a backbone like a dinosaur. Are these abnormalities the result of some strange latent gene in their DNA…or something worse? When news come from across the country of similar abnormalities, Carrie and Brian follow the clues to what appears to be the source, somewhere in what used to be the gold fields of California, near Sutter’s Mill in the late 1840s.

I’ve read quite a few Bentley Little horror novels over the years and enjoyed a fair number. But fewer and fewer of them as time goes by. This novel reminds me of why. While the premise is interesting, the plot unfolds too slowly, and the suspense build-up is drawn out way too much. Looking back now it seems to have been one giant mashup of weird ideas. Abnormal freaks? Serial killers? Pod people? What is the actual horror going on here? Some people leave their loved ones and “vanish” (hence the title, I suppose, although surely there were better options). The first quarter of the book is all about introducing new characters and situations in little vignettes, only to have them die by the “horror” of whatever is happening. I couldn’t figure out who would be the protagonist(s) until about one third of the way in. And by then I wasn’t sure I cared.

There is a huge “ick” factor throughout the books as well, something that is a regular feature of Bentley Little’s works. It seemed even more prevalent this time though, or perhaps I am simply growing older and less inclined to want to see this sort of stuff on the page. If you enjoy reading of grotesque overly explicit sexual violence with outrageous details of sexual organs in action, then this book may be for you. Nothing subtle here. (This is not in any way sexy or titillating…more of a gross-out contest). I will certainly give the author credit for a creative imagination when it comes to this stuff, but I wish he didn’t always descend into such debased potty horror.

Despite these negatives, the plot does get to a conclusion eventually, although, frankly, it was a bit of a let-down. There were some nice chapters mixed in throughout the second half of the book which take us back in time to the 1800s era, so we could see how this ill-defined horror began. Or so I thought. But instead of this leading to an explanation of any kind, it was simply more examples of the same “horror” that is playing out in the present. 

In the end, the book left me thankful it was over, and I could move on to something more palatable.

Something's Alive on the Titanic by Robert Serling

Well that was certainly better than I thought it might be.  I wasn’t sure what to expect with such a title but right from the beginning I was pleasantly surprised.  This novel is broken into two parts, the first taking place in 1975 when a somewhat amateurish crew discovers the wreck of the Titanic (the actual discovery took place in 1985) based on some decrypted evidence of gold bullion on board.  The second half of the novel takes place in 1995 where an almost entirely different set of characters takes advantage of new technology and techniques to once again go after the rumored crates full of gold bullion on board the wreckage.

The title certainly suggests this to be a horror novel but most of the book is better classified as scientific adventure.  I found the science of deep-sea diving and salvage operations in both eras to be quite interesting, and the build-up of suspense on what the characters might find within the hull of the doomed ocean liner was well done.  Lots of historical tidbits were included as well. Once the wreckage was reached, there were horror elements introduced which began to drive the plot but even these supernatural reveals were also discussed among the two separate crews in a rather scientific manner…and quite plausibly.  The horror, for the most part, was fairly subtle but had huge impacts on the plot.  It struck a nice balance that included some moral lessons about greed and guilt.

Interestingly, this novel was written and published only a couple of years before James Cameron’s “Titanic” burst on the movie scene, so at the time of publication I think a reader might have been a bit more intrigued by the wonder and mystery that surrounded the Titanic’s sinking.  Today it is hard not to picture scenes from the movie when reading this novel.  Nevertheless, I was happy to take a chance on this one and I enjoyed it quite a bit.  This author intrigues me so I may just have to seek out more of his work.

Swan Song by Robert McCammon

I've been wanting to get to this one ever since I "discovered" Robert McCammon's more recent historical fiction novels, starting with "Speaks the Nightbird". I knew from that novel and its sequels that he was an outstanding writer in general and had a gift for subtle horror.  I also knew his past career included some highly regarded full-on horror novels and after sampling "Mystery Walk" I realized this would be an author that would make my "completest" list (i.e. I have a burning hunger to read everything they've ever written, including their grocery shopping lists).

So this novel is a post-apocalyptic novel, huge in scope (and page count ~ 950 pages).  Nuclear war wipes out most of the world's population and survivors are forced to, well...try and survive.  Inevitably, this novel is compared to Stephen King's "The Stand" and fans will argue over which is better.  I choose not to argue with myself over that issue; nothing wrong with putting both up on that highest of pedestals.  But one can also make comparisons to just about any other post-apocalyptic novel or even such classic works as "Lord of the Flies".  

The novel is filled with unique characters, many of them playing tiny supporting roles that turn out to be vital to the overall tapestry.  The handful of major characters are each fascinating figures and whether or not they are fulfilling a "good" or "evil" role, the reader can still empathize with them. Many times we're not sure exactly who is a "good" character and who isn't, while at other times, it's crystal clear.  In fact, trying to determine where individual characters lie on the Jedi/Sith index is half the fun.

The novel covers the gamut of emotions.  At times the violence is raw, brutal, and horrific while at other times we're treated to the amazing beauty of characters' souls. At still other times, there are elements of the supernatural that enter the plot, elements of spiritual powers and faith against the force of evil.  The plot weaves brilliantly among different points of view, and, despite its length, I never felt it was too long or that the story dragged.  The ending is incredibly satisfying and after reading that last page, I felt like I had been holding my breath for the last hour and could finally release.  It's that kind of reading experience.

If you enjoy post-apocalyptic novels or end-of-the-world novels, then this is a must-read.  If you enjoy McCammon's writing in general, then this is a must read as it is considered one of his best.  For me, it's one more notch in my McCammon belt and I am so so happy that there are still many left to read.

Sepulchre by James Herbert

Originally published in 1987, this novel was written in the middle of James Herbert’s career, an author who has been referred to as the British Stephen King. It features a professional bodyguard and hostage negotiator named Liam Halloran who works for a company named ‘Achilles Shield’. He is assigned to protect the most valuable asset of the Magma Corporation who turns out to be a man named Felix Kline. Why is Kline so valuable? Halloran is told the man is a psychic researcher whose paranormal abilities allow him to locate undiscovered mineral mines. Halloran is skeptical to say the least but as events unfold, he is soon convinced. There have already been several failed attempts on Kline’s life by rival companies but now, the psychic has had a premonition that he will soon be in even greater danger.

The novel is basically a thriller novel for the first three-fourths of the book as Halloran works to increase security around Kline. He is introduced to the man’s personal bodyguard, a woman named Cora Redmile but soon realizes she is not trained well enough and security measures for Kline are inadequate. He does have four hired thugs but they are brutes of the worst sort. When Kline decides to be moved to his luxurious personal estate named ‘Neath’, hidden away in a small valley near London, Halloran’s tasks magnify. We see a few glimpses of something supernatural going on, although neither Halloran nor the reader is quite sure what it is. These glimpses certainly attracted me further and kept me turning the pages. The characters’ backstories are developed thoroughly as the buildup continues and eventually leads into the final quarter of the book where the horror aspects are fully unleashed. 

I haven’t read much by this author but based on this one, I am intrigued and will surely sample more of his work. I enjoyed the bodyguard/physical security aspects of the novel, especially Halloran’s workman like approach to his job in spite of a less than appreciative client. And when the horror comes out it really comes out. I felt the barrage of revelation after revelation as Herbert ties in earlier clues, including ancient Sumerian mythology and biblical themes. The plots and subplots are layered one upon the other and not fully appreciated until the dramatic and fitting conclusion.

Herbert’s incorporation of a thriller/horror crossover, I understand, is not unique to this novel. I thought it worked very well, with the corporate aspects providing a way to become truly invested in the characters before the major horror elements were let loose. I’m looking forward to my next Herbert novel.

Tick Tock by Dean Koontz

Tommy Phan has carved out a nice career as a detective novelist, so much so that he has just quit his reporter day job. His family immigrated to the US from Vietnam when Tommy was a young child, and he is all about pursuing the American Dream. But when a mysterious package arrives on his doorstop containing a strange little cloth doll, he wonders who sent it. Wonder turns to fear and terror when the doll comes to life, attacks him, and continually morphs into a larger and more gruesome demon. Worse, all Tommy’s attacks and attempts to stop it, kill it or even just harm it, fail. His only clue in all this is a phrase that has mysteriously appeared on his computer: “Deadline is dawn”. 

Tick Tock.

Every time I start to read a Dean Koontz book, I hesitate, knowing I am taking a risk. While some of my best reading experiences in the horror genre are due to his work, I’ve also suffered a great deal of wasted opportunities. Over the first 100 pages of this novel, I was preparing, unfortunately, to log this one in the later category. It’s a simple set-up for a horror tale but Koontz can drag out a scene with the best of them and this was getting old real fast.

But then, the whole thing gets turned on its head. It turns into a screw-ball comedy. You heard that right. Perhaps the setup I’ve described lends one to conclude that’s what has been planned all along. Regardless, the character of Del (short for Deliverance Payne) enters the plot and all is cool thereafter. She provides the zaniness, the pizazz, the aggravating nonchalance that is required for a screwball horror comedy to work. She’s a waitress who is also an heiress to a fortune. Tommy is the bumbling, unbeliever who must tolerate Del’s wild philosophies and uncanny abilities to do everything from hotwire a car to pilot a helicopter. This isn’t a laugh-out-loud funny book but her antics (and her mother’s) certainly brought a smile to my face, and eventually to Tommy’s as well.

In the end, I’m glad I stuck with this one. It’s not Koontz’ masterpiece but it turned out to be a pretty nice fun read.

Reincarnal & Other Dark Tales by Max Allen Collins

I’ve read a fair number of Max Allan Collin’s crime and/or mystery novels and always enjoyed them but this is the first time I realized he wrote some horror as well, so naturally, I had to jump on this collection. Included here are 8 stories plus two radio play scripts. I enjoyed every one of them, an unusual thing for an anthology of any stripe. 

Several of these are MAC’s take on traditional horror stories. There’s a couple of vampire tales, a Frankenstein’s monster type of story, a werewolf story and at least two haunted house yarns. But the author brings a unique perspective to each of the stories, dropping clues along the way as to which traditional story you’re reading. For example, the Frankenstein story isn’t a mad scientist creating a creature from dead body parts, exactly, but rather about a mob kingpin. There are other tales here as well, not tied into any previous works. Some tend towards hard core horror while others have a definite sense of humor about them. Most of them offer explicit sexual content so be aware of that before diving in.

All these stories were previously published as contributions to previous anthologies, mostly in the 1990s. All are pretty quick reads and thoroughly enjoyable.  Here are the stories included:

- “Reincarnal” - 1994
- “The Night of Their Lives” – 1995
- “A Good Head on his Shoulders” – 1993
- “Wolf” – 1999
- “Not a Creature Was Stirring” – 1990, revised in 2020
- “Open House” – 2011
- “Traces of Red” – 1995
- “Rock ‘n’ Roll Will Never Die” – 1994
- “Interstate 666” – 1997
- “House of Blood” Radio Play – 2012
- “Mercy” Radio Play - 2012

Soul Eater by Dana Brookins

Outside the village of Edgar Falls, in the abutting Pellam Woods, a house is being built.  A mansion, really, being assembled piece by piece. A reconstruction at the behest of a person or persons unknown.  Not much happens in Edgar Falls and since the factory, the town’s major employer, is getting close to shutting down, the town’s populace is enjoying the mystery of who is building this mansion. But soon bad things start to happen. Personalities change, horrible house fires kill occupants, and more. Twelve-year-old Bobby Topin senses the house is behind these terrible events and is somehow controlling people to do its bidding.

This book was originally published in 1985 and was reprinted in 2018 as part of an effort to resurrect forgotten horror “classics”. Yes, this is essentially a haunted house story, but unlike any I’ve read before.  While I enjoyed the setup of the story as well as parts of the unfolding plot, I think the novel really ran into trouble by overloading us with way too many characters and their individual subplots.  I really didn’t need to know every single townsperson and what their individual problems and life complications were.  More than once, I lost track of the main plot thread and wondered where the story was going. 

The final chapters brought everything back in line and the final payoff was OK, if a little bit predictable. No attempt was made to reveal the nature of the house and its evil. I had to be content with an “it was just evil” sort of explanation.  

Vampire$ by John Steakley

I really didn’t know what to expect of this novel when I first began reading it and now that I’ve finished…I’m not sure how I feel about it. It’s the story of a group of present-day mercenary vampire hunters who will clean out a nest in return for dollars. They don’t really seem to do it for the pay though so much as the idea of “somebody has to do it”. The team is led by Jack Crow and we discover during the course of the novel that he has been doing this for three years which is longer than anybody else he’s heard of. But he also knows he won’t ever win the war; there will always be more nests and he and his team can’t live forever.

These vampires are tough creatures to kill. This is not Buffy’s universe where you can simply go out on patrol, stake a few vamps here and there and call it a good night. These are horrendous monsters and it takes all of their ingenuity and teamwork just to kill the “normal” ones. When it comes to the masters, it’s a whole ‘nother level. Practically like fighting a deity. 

Parts of the novel were excellent, especially some of the fight scenes. My eyes were glued to the page to see how it would turn out. It’s like reading a hard-boiled men’s adventure story…with vampires. But other parts, unfortunately, were drawn out introspectives or flashback descriptions of a character’s past which I simply needed to plow through to hopefully get back to the good stuff again. The team members know their chances of living past the next battle are not good, so their down time is predictably crude and filled with hard drinking. Not especially fun to read about. Some of the characters are already broken, even at the beginning of the novel. I think I know what the author was trying to do with this "character building" but it didn't really work for me. 

Shades of Evil by Hugh B. Cave

There is something coming from the lake. It looks like a foggy blob at first but then coalesces into the shape of a human woman. First, two large dogs are found dead but later, residents of the nearby condominium complex start to be killed. Will Platt is an author of occult stories who lives in the complex and he feels there is some connection to his soon-to-be ex-wife as well as a recent trip to Jamaica. Certainly, voodoo has something to do with it.

Hugh B. Cave was a prolific pulpster, selling over 800 stories during the 1920’s and 30’s in just about every genre imaginable. He was probably known best for his horror and weird menace stories, and this novel is a good example of that. This novel is told in three parts with the first and third taking place in Florida near the aforementioned lake while the third is a flashback to the island of Jamaica. Interestingly, the author, after a stint in WW2 as a war correspondent, moved to Jamaica and managed a coffee plantation while continuing his writing career. This has resulted in accurate and insightful descriptions of the island and its inhabitants in this novel.

I’ve never been a big fan of voodoo in novels and there is a lot of that here, as well as other occult practices that I am not familiar with (obeah and bocorism?). I guess it is not surprising considering the author’s time in Haiti resulted in his publishing "Haiti: Highroad to Adventure", a nonfiction work that some claim is the "best report on voodoo in English." The man knew his subject. Many of the main characters in this novel not only believe in the associated powers but seem to take it for granted that others do too. And they do! Nobody ever really questions the occult nature of the mysterious apparition, and easily buy into the premise. I found the horror elements to be somewhat subdued by today’s standards, but it does focus on the fear and apprehension aspects rather than any kind of gore and blood splatter.

I was surprised to find out the novel reads much more like a modern horror story than a pulp story. Like something from Dean Koontz or John Saul might write.

What's Wrong With Valerie? by D.A. Fowler

Valerie has had a tough time of it.  She’s recently buried her grandmother after taking care of her during her final three years and now she is living alone on the modest inheritance, with no income and trying to become a writer.  She also sees monsters.  Little yellow-eyed monsters that come out at night, oozing underneath the bottom of doors in her house. Oh, and they feed on human flesh.  So believes Valerie.  To appease them, Valerie must provide them with fresh human meat.  The easiest way seems to be renting out a room in her house, find unique ways to kill the renters, and stash the bodies for easy access.  If a renter isn’t available, others who make the fatal mistake of visiting Valerie will do just as well.

Sounds like a rather simplistic horror novel that might be churned out by a hack writer in the 1940s for a half cent per word.  But it’s not like that at all. This book was originally published in 1991 and is an odd combination of dark horror and comedic horror.  It’s fair to say that I was never always sure when I should be chuckling at the latest horrific scene, or disgusted. Much of the activity that Valerie engages in is utterly horrible. Not just the murders to supply the monsters with fresh meat, but also scenes of Valerie heaping mental abuse on two vulnerable young girls.

But all that is balanced with Valerie’s own perspective which is one of dogged determination to keep feeding the monsters while trying to keep one step ahead of suspicion. She even communicates with those she has killed via her word processor to get advice on how to handle whatever crisis has just developed.  She’s an engaging character and I found myself simultaneously rooting for her in her next “project” while also feeling sorry for her and hoping she gets caught and confined to an institution. In fact, throughout the novel we readers must wonder if she truly is bonkers or if, perhaps, this is all real.  

This is an easy-to-read novel, a page-turner if you will.  It’s not meant to be realistic per se, as is obvious in the way Valerie gets away with everything for so long. The one investigating cop isn’t all that competent for most of the novel, content to believe what is easiest.  Friends, family and neighbors tend to ignore the obvious as well. But that all lends itself to the plot and Valerie’s outlook.  The end could have gone so many different ways but turned out to be something other than what I was expecting.