Honestly, I thought this would be more about a good girl who slides into darkness, PERFORMING murder, but alas, it wasn't nearly so funny.
Instead, it'Honestly, I thought this would be more about a good girl who slides into darkness, PERFORMING murder, but alas, it wasn't nearly so funny.
Instead, it's a rather good mystery that follows closely to a coming of age story, giving us the whole package of amateur investigation, twists and turns, and all kinds of neat characters.
That being said, I read this with my buddy reader with the express intent of enjoying the streaming series based on this book -- and let's just say I love the book.
*whispers*
(Why, oh, WHY do people have to make so many absolutely stupid changes to a perfectly good book in an adaptation? Seriously. It's not about money or problematic ideas. It could have EASILY followed every detail in the book without a SINGLE PROBLEM, thereby enchanting the actual fans of the book, becoming a rare unicorn in the entire industry, and just STICK to the DAMN landing.) ...more
Even though I've read most of these short stories across the years, it's an utter no-brainer to pick up these stories and enjoy them again.
It's HarlanEven though I've read most of these short stories across the years, it's an utter no-brainer to pick up these stories and enjoy them again.
It's Harlan Ellison, ya'll. Always acerbic, a force for energetic good, and yet, litigious as hell -- and above all, a loud-mouth, brilliant storyteller.
Instead of commenting on every single story here, I will just mention my now-favorites. A few will slip and slide, but some will always remain.
Repent, Harlequin, said the Ticktock Man -- the ultimate SF that thumbs its nose at time-punchers, is sad and it makes me angry and while I APPRECIATE the damn point, I deal with people who can't not be late for their very lives -- so I guess I have to become the Ticktocck Man. GGahaaaaahhhhhhh. Anyway.
I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream -- Alas, I've read this 5 times, and so, I decided to use ChatGPT to give me it's REAL opinion on AM, and oh, my, it's a slippery one.
Deathbird -- I always thought of this as a little philosophical stroll down good/evil redemption lane, but HOW it was written was pretty awesome. A little cosmic horror and schoolwork together never hurts.
Chatting with Anubis -- Short, sharp afterlife. Secrets kill. :)
This was a surprising novel. It's a western, foremost, but it slipped most naturally into witchcraft, demons, and took on many of the best aspects of,This was a surprising novel. It's a western, foremost, but it slipped most naturally into witchcraft, demons, and took on many of the best aspects of, say Blood Meridian, while owning the dark fantasy.
A pretty great adventure, all told, with interesting characters and full of flight, chase, and discovery.
Review for: Rachael K. Jones's "The Sound of Children Screaming"
This one gave me some serious chills. I mean, sure, the title kind of gives it away, bReview for: Rachael K. Jones's "The Sound of Children Screaming"
This one gave me some serious chills. I mean, sure, the title kind of gives it away, but the fundamental fact that most children in America must face this possibility -- the entrance of the Gun, the horror of the Portal -- is the real horror.
Jones merely gives it a dark fantasy twist, a shuddering stoppage of time that allows children to be beguiled, to have them learn one truly nasty lesson:
What is done to victims, to make them feel powerless, almost always turns these survivors into victimizers. Or, at the very least, into people who must also surround themselves by Guns, or any abuse of power, to never feel that powerless again.
The damn cycle is the damn horror.
This story, nommed for this year's Hugo, may be on target for the message, but I'll withhold judgment on whether it deserves such an award. Either way, our world is messed up....more
Review for Aliette de Bodard's "The Mausoleum’s Children"
I'm keeping up with the Hugo noms and while this one did sound interesting just based on the Review for Aliette de Bodard's "The Mausoleum’s Children"
I'm keeping up with the Hugo noms and while this one did sound interesting just based on the title, I'm afraid that it didn't grab me. Why? Maybe it's because I haven't kept up with her other, related works, or perhaps it was written a bit too sparse, with me wanting a lot more description and grounding, or perhaps because it was all depressing and cruel -- or a combination of all of the above.
As an SF with a decidedly horror bent, I wanted more meat, not just the insinuations of horror. I wanted to connect with it, but I bounced.
Unfortunately, this isn't the first time I've bounced with Aliette de Bodard. I keep wanting more from it, but end up starving and broken. ...more
I needed something FAST for Valentine's day that just might hit all the right buttons for humor and horror, and since I've dabbled in CarltonAmazing.
I needed something FAST for Valentine's day that just might hit all the right buttons for humor and horror, and since I've dabbled in Carlton Mellick III a few times in the past and always got a good chuckle out of it, when I read the title of this one, I knew it was going to be all kinds of cool.
I mean, it's absurdist, surreal, wholesome, and utterly disturbing all at the same time, but that doesn't change the fact that it's amazing, too.
Let's just get the elephant out into the open, first. The title is literal. It's simultaneously cute as hell and gory. But then, the entire story is, too. Even with all the collateral damage, the side-story of bullying, the horrible consequences of all the little excitements of life, it's still WHOLESOME while being absolutely anything but. :)
And it's PERFECT for V-Day -- especially if you, my dear little reader, are a twisted little freak....more
Overall, a great collection of SK stories. Not a single complaint.
Two Talented Bastids -- What I thought MIGHT be a nice tie-in to Tommyknockers actuOverall, a great collection of SK stories. Not a single complaint.
Two Talented Bastids -- What I thought MIGHT be a nice tie-in to Tommyknockers actually turned out to be a rather wholesome, if eerie, tale. 5/5
The Fifth Step - 4/5
Willie the Weirdo - What a creepy damn kid. 4/5
Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream - I loved every second of this. Poor Danny! This is King in top form. 5/5
Finn - I really felt sorry for this kid. Of course, the twist... 4/5
On Slide Inn Road - Old grandpa is a real hoot. Great language, ya old popcorn fart. :) 5/5
Red Screen - A nice twist on "picking". A bit of the normal and a good horrible wallop of the other. 4/5
The Turbulence Expert - 4/5
Laurie - Nothing like a little dog to lighten up your life. :) 5/5
Rattlesnakes - Wicked pram tale. Easily one of the best stories in this collection. I thought it was all kinds of cool that it carries Cujo on, so many years past that puppy's expiration date. More than anything else, though, this was one hell of a good ghost story. 5/5
The Dreamers - Oooohhh I love SK's cosmic horror stories. 5/5
The Answer Man - A good twist on a monkey paw story. And as always, the answer is in the proper question. :) 5/5...more
I mean, I've read a lot of his earlier works, back when I kinda thought he was on the same stage as KingI can't say enough good things about this one.
I mean, I've read a lot of his earlier works, back when I kinda thought he was on the same stage as King and Simmons when it came to those HUGE slice of life 80's horrors, and so it comes to something of a huge shock to realize he never left that stage.
The Five also happened to wrap a huge fist around my heart and keep me alive by some huge artificial means -- because it's one of those fantastic music novels. You know the type. Rock musicians on the road, trying everything to keep body and soul alive for the sake of the music.
The Five ram themselves against a truly nasty foe... an old warrior who rather got broke while on tour, who didn't take very kindly to hearing about any kind of protest talk from some stupid musicians... who then took his sniper skills on the road, hunting these musicians down one at a time.
So soon, the real countdown begins.
I loved it. I loved the characters, the depth, the perseverance, the friendships. And yes, I felt like I was hearing the music on stage, too.
It's the writing that I loved most. McCammon is a real master. I wanna be a barker for him. It doesn't cost a lot for a hellofalot of entertainment, folks. It's worth EVERY penny. :)
This was a delightful Joe Hill. I mean, sure, MOST of the time we see ghost-ish stories like this from a female perspective, with the same emotions, bThis was a delightful Joe Hill. I mean, sure, MOST of the time we see ghost-ish stories like this from a female perspective, with the same emotions, but I was delighted to read it from a male perspective.
You know, as if men have feelings or could want children or get a bit nutty about all that. :) Yeah, I know, I'm talking INSANE CRAP, right?
This is really more of a nostalgia piece that revisits all the cool bits from the first book. You know, picking up where the good characters left off,This is really more of a nostalgia piece that revisits all the cool bits from the first book. You know, picking up where the good characters left off, reminding us of some nasty history, and mixing it up with a ton of cool necromancy, magic, and black Doctor Who bits.
I enjoyed every bit of it -- but it absolutely rides on the coattails of the first. That's not a bad thing. I'm also saying that it didn't have the fantastic plot of the first book. Indeed, it was a bit meandering.
Not only is this a solid, good horror, it has such a delightfully wicked premise.
It's been so long since I've seen towns stuck in time stories, be itNot only is this a solid, good horror, it has such a delightfully wicked premise.
It's been so long since I've seen towns stuck in time stories, be it SF or Horror. And better yet, I've seen nothing like this stuck in the mid 90's. Nostalgia hits hard... again.
So. No spoilers, but we've got a pretty great atmospheric mystery that includes PoV and epistolary elements and a particularly great "oh, shit, this small town stuff is SCARY" vibe. Again, no spoilers, but the journey is all kinds of great.
Modern meets 90's ancient. Yeah, feeling old yet?...more
Super solid horror that proves that Chuck Tingle has the good ole writer's chops. He's much more than the schock-shlock-shlong monster gay porn writerSuper solid horror that proves that Chuck Tingle has the good ole writer's chops. He's much more than the schock-shlock-shlong monster gay porn writer I laughed about for years. Indeed, he writes a real horror with real style.
Camp Damascus gives us not only the traditional horror of conversion therapy, but monsters who really hate lgbtq as much as the morally righteous.
I'm just glad that real people with real flamethrowers exist to stand up against this dual terror.
Great stuff! I can really get behind this rage. :)...more
A pretty good creature feature with a decent twist. It's really short but it does the job really well. A good set up and total knock-down, drag under A pretty good creature feature with a decent twist. It's really short but it does the job really well. A good set up and total knock-down, drag under the bed kind of story.
But honestly? I kinda wish it was a longer work. I think it would have made for a fascinating ride -- especially if this was just the beginning....more
I really enjoyed the new King novel. I have to admit Holly's adventures as a private investigator have all be thoroughly enjoyable. As a regular invesI really enjoyed the new King novel. I have to admit Holly's adventures as a private investigator have all be thoroughly enjoyable. As a regular investigation noir, it has great quirks and a firm grounding in our modern world. Case in point: 2020-21, and all the Covid, riots, and upheavals it includes.
Did I have any issues with the novel?
No.
It has all the Stephen King feel, all the quirks, the great characters, and the solid plots I keep coming back for. No supernatural stuff this time, but King was always great in either direction.
So? Anyone hungry for a thriller? Come on, let's eat! I promise, it's very, very nutritious. ...more
This new UF is a very nice surprise. We've got seedy corporate underbelly with cutthroat cyberpunkish-vibes with a total lawful evil Old Ones Cthulhu This new UF is a very nice surprise. We've got seedy corporate underbelly with cutthroat cyberpunkish-vibes with a total lawful evil Old Ones Cthulhu ethos and a bunch of street folk just trying to survive the Greater Evil, brain parasites, and corporate NDAs.
It's smart and delightfully horrific.
It's like you take all the Wolfram and Hart aspects of Angel, run with it as it is all of New York City, and you don't have any mythical savior at your back. It's all gritty.
And in the meantime, we just try to find a little sweet love against all the odds. HEA? Maybe. But there's also an elder god whose babies want to eat the world, so you've gotta juggle these things, ya know?
Khaw and Kadrey. These two authors are some of my gritty favorites anyway. Together, they whip up something FUN. Happy Spooktober! We're off to a great new start!...more
Eater-of-Bone was a pretty great novella -- especially for the ideas. For anyone who's read Asher's Splatterjay novels, Reed's story will come as a deEater-of-Bone was a pretty great novella -- especially for the ideas. For anyone who's read Asher's Splatterjay novels, Reed's story will come as a delicious exploration of savagery in his Great Ship universe.
It's wild, wild, wild. Functional immortality and never-ending tooth-and-nail existence. I wish there was more SF like this. ...more
What I initially took to be a post-apocalyptic Nevada desert dystopia filled with religious fanatics and a twisted kind of Las Vegas sainthood with alWhat I initially took to be a post-apocalyptic Nevada desert dystopia filled with religious fanatics and a twisted kind of Las Vegas sainthood with all the corruption that implies actually turned out to be a story of subtle redemption. Indeed, the desert itself is a main character.
I do have to say that I liked this book better in hindsight than the actual journey. The ideas of the western aesthetic was there, of course, as was the slow degradation of the soul starting with pilgrimage all the way to years and years of abuse. The redemption aspect was there, but it was small and mostly only in the reader's mind.
I can't say I actually had a good time while reading this. It was hard to watch, so to speak. But then, I also have a hard time with most westerns or western-adjacents. It sometimes reads like a slow coming-to-terms, but it feels like a slow-burn horror. A very slow burn.
It is split up in three different PoVs and spreads across a good deal of time. The big focus on organized religion and the criticism -- as well as the supernatural elements -- kept this from being pure commentary. Fortunately, or unfortunately, this one straddles many lines without fully committing to any. Sometimes that works out great, and sometimes it's just unclear. I appreciate the subtlety, regardless....more
With shocking, evocative language, rivers of abuse, blood, poverty, and a sick fascination with all Here's one of the more brilliant books I've read.
With shocking, evocative language, rivers of abuse, blood, poverty, and a sick fascination with all things corrupt, it's a testament to all things evil and/or lost.
While the historically-based events and the pristine Western-ethos is on full display, the subversion of the genre is, as well. I'm not precisely a fan of Westerns even on the best of days, but I've always enjoyed the best of the best. I liked the exploration of grey areas and white and black hats. I liked the purity, or at least the utter impossibility of finding purity. But Blood Meridian does away with all that. There's nothing but black hats. It's all a pure dystopia and it's brutal, ugly, hateful.
The only things we DO get to focus on to pull us through this nightmare is the mythology of the best worst people in the story. The Judge is quite brilliant and capable and he is quite possibly the best depiction of the devil I've ever read. And all these parts of America and Mexico are, indeed, hell.
This isn't a book for the light of heart. It is brilliant and gorgeous in its brutal ugliness. I'm in awe even as my stomach turns. ...more
Here's something awesome for you. I'm a TOTAL pushover for great art, great nasty story, and MONSTERS INSIDE US.
I mean, I've read the whole Naruto serHere's something awesome for you. I'm a TOTAL pushover for great art, great nasty story, and MONSTERS INSIDE US.
I mean, I've read the whole Naruto series twice and that whole story arc of the kid with the nine-tailed demon fox living within him was all kinds of awesome. So why do I love Monstress?
The demon living inside her, of course. SOOOO COOL!
Really, though, the artwork is all kinds of amazing and the story kicks me in my bollocks. It's bloody, it's disturbing, it's setting us up for all kinds of epic, and I'm completely hooked. It's kinda like Claymore and Berserk rolled into one, only the artwork is fully realized and colored on every page and it's just soooo gorgeous. And disturbing. :)
I can't wait to see what kind of friendship they strike up. :)
Merged review:
Here's something awesome for you. I'm a TOTAL pushover for great art, great nasty story, and MONSTERS INSIDE US.
I mean, I've read the whole Naruto series twice and that whole story arc of the kid with the nine-tailed demon fox living within him was all kinds of awesome. So why do I love Monstress?
The demon living inside her, of course. SOOOO COOL!
Really, though, the artwork is all kinds of amazing and the story kicks me in my bollocks. It's bloody, it's disturbing, it's setting us up for all kinds of epic, and I'm completely hooked. It's kinda like Claymore and Berserk rolled into one, only the artwork is fully realized and colored on every page and it's just soooo gorgeous. And disturbing. :)
I can't wait to see what kind of friendship they strike up. :)...more
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