Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Light Novels, Vol. 2 by Fujino Ōmori
My rating: 6 of 10 stars
This episode focus on two things.
First and foremost on the meeting between our protagonist and his supporter Liliy. Basically a supporter is someone who follows around the adventurers and gather the magic stones. In the end the supporter receives a fair share of the cake... unless the adventurers beat the supporters and refuse to give them anything - that's the life of Lily.
She tries to steal Bell and clueless Bell lets her because he is trying to "save" her.... another anime character who due to is good, innocent, white heart saves someone from being a jerk and a criminal. I think this could have been done in other way because I doubt in reality there are many people like that... I know this is not reality but as a novel, anime, tv series (whatever) you have to relate to the characters or else you don't enjoy the show... Well, this is not always like this. I enjoy evil characters and I am not evil so... what do I know.
Nevertheless, a good novel, it focus more on Bell and his evolution. He learns magic and it's rapidly evolving. We get some glimpses of his goddess, Ais & the guild girl and also very interestingly some background story.
suffice to say I am buying the next volume...
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Judge Dredd by Neal Barrett Jr.
My rating: 1 of 5 stars
This tie-in novelization didn't brought anything that the movie (the old one) didn't show with the sole exception of the inbetween journal entries every fifty pages, or so.
The book didn't gave any character any more characterization than the movie.
As I said, the only good thing was the journal entries. It gave some information about Judge Dredd, it's companions, society and the future.
Should you read it? Nope. See the movie.
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Doctor Who: The Wheel In Space by Terrance Dicks
My rating: 5 of 10 stars
Quite good story.
This tale sets the return of Doctor Who to space. They arrive at a ship of huge dimensions that is drifting through space. Cyberman is our evil doers and this is also the first tale with the new companion Zoe Heriot, the Librarian. I really enjoy Zoe. She has an eidetic memory. A child wonder. In this story Jamie has a more important role.
You won't get more about cybermen than you already know. They are evil and want to conquer the earth. Mind controlling is getting a bit... usual. The last couple of books I read someone has their mind taken over by someone. It's quite... annoying?
Nevertheless... interesting reading.
"You can't deny the facts. It's pure logic." -Zoe
"Logic, my dear zoe, mere enables one to be wrong with authority." Doctor
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Legacy of Blood by Richard A. Knaak
My rating: 7 of 10 stars
Well this book deserves 3.5 stars. Not Four but neither Three. Why? (Goodreads rating system)
The book gave what I hoped. A fast pace story about a world fill with wonders that you learn as you play. This book only added to that "history".
You've got three guys fighting through a labyrinth when one of them dresses a red armour that belong to Bartuc, the warlord of blood. As he puts in on he kills his friends and wanders the land as the armour leads him somewhere he does not know. From this moment on you've got two main characters. One, Norrec, the Armour's puppet. Two, Kara Nightshadow, a necromancer than wants to find Norrec and there are a couple of characters inbetween by Galeona, a sorcerer, and General Malevolyn.
The good part is that everyone wants to find Norrec and the Armour. Each with his own motifs. Kara Nightshadow wants to destroy or at least remove the armour from Norrec, Galeona wants to make Norrec is puppet, Malevolyn wants to wear the armour and Xazax, a daemon, wants Malevolyn to be his puppeteer.
At some point each main character was a puppet from others but they evolved, and that's the main focus of the story. I really enjoy Norrec powers, or at least the armour powers and how he tried to control the armour. I also enjoy Kara and her own masters, the wraiths that were killed by Norrec. Quite interesting.
I enjoy the travels around the world we know and also the backstory and their motifs. If there was one part that I hated was the end.
In my opinion it was a bit of Deus-ex-machina. I hoped for a unhappy ending but it seems that all went well. The bad were rewarded with death and the good guys lived happy ever after. I really hope for a grim ending (like in warhammer fantasy) because there wasn't any "Good" characters in the book. Even Norrec was not that good and Kara was doing what was right (not good or bad). To achieve the balance as she put it.
Overall, advisable to anyone who loves Diablo and a good short fantasy novel.
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Covenant by John Everson
My rating: 8 of 10 stars
This was an interesting and fun reading. I say this because of all the reviews I saw here that this book was sex all the way. Well it was not that sex involved. Well it had sex. A good horror story (movie or book) has a sex seen. This one had more than most.
It has rape scenes so to the faint of heart beware.
This novel deals with a reporter that after making a harsh decision leaves the city and goes working in a local newspaper where no "big" news will be presented... until a serie of suicides draws his attention. Then the same thing happens as other horror novels. The town people warns that he must stay way but he (Joe Kieran) wants to investigate.
It seems the town have a personal daemon that draws every year a victim, usually from outside town but it seems that now it's taking some children from the very town. It's quite interesting the tale and the supernatural it's excelent.
For some time you wonder if this is another scooby doo tale where there isn't any supernatural involved but "it" starts talking with each character. Interesting is that this daemon is quite powerful, even capable of using the body of several people at a time.
The rape scenes as I said are almost and handful and it helps the plot. First with Angelica with Kieran, then Angelica when she tried to leave town, then with Cindy, then the all bunch of six girls and in the end a couple more occasions.
I enjoyed the supernatural, as I before and it had a backstory behind that help a lot the flow of the story.
The ending leaves an opening to a sequel (and I will buy it someday).
With less than 300 pages is a fast paced book that will leave you satisfied if you like this type of horror.
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Seven Ancient Wonders by Matthew Reilly
My rating: 3 of 10 stars
Ahhh...
Finally it's over. I am undecided on how many stars I am going to give. After making my review I will decide.
So, what have we got here... A action-slash-adventure thriller book sure reads like a movie script.
First of all I nearly gave up after reading 78 pages and after my second, third and each attempt I read but I don't want to leave any unfinish book.
I have so many critics that I don't know how to begin. I know this is FICTION novel but at the same time I know this is not fantasy and neither SF so there are some things that I sure accept as "writer's liberty".
First of all are the characters. The main character is a uber character near invicible. No matter how many times they try to kill him he will escape. No harm can befall him. So I didn't care about him.
Second his partners in adventure are what they are. Muslism are muslims, israelites are what you expect from one of them. And so on.
Third The Enemies. Oh my god! The story goes like this... The europeans task force is something something invicible awesome but then a couple chapters after they die like a vietnamese in a Rambo movie. Then come the americans. They are the best of the best and bang come the vietnamese. Then come the isralites... oh no, they are the best of the best of the best and vietnamese become... They sure look like Stormtroopers in a Stars Wars movies. They are the best of all galaxy but sure don't hit a damn thing in all movies.
In this case change bond's villains to West's villains. It's the same thing.
Four How in the name of Amun-Ra they could make all their travels in under 7 days? How in name of God could they find all those hidden wonders in such short time. You know Iraq is sure big enough and the Tunisian's Coast to cover in just couple of hours.
Five If only was that easy to take someone from the Guantanamo bay.
Six Oh my god... the hawk. I want it. I really want it because he is a smart as a person and can fly.
Seven Then you've got all those traps with crocodiles... What the heck do they eat inside a mountain closed for 4 thousand years? Maybe they are cannibals...
Really man.. I am going to type here this sentence
"He leapt from the walkay onto the stepping-stone -- and immediately heard a rush of water from up inside the wall-hole, accompained by a low crocodilian growl --
-at which point he jammed his titanium X-bar into the wall-hole and hit a switchon the bar.
Thwack!
The x-shaped bar expanded with a powerful springloaded motion, so that suddenly it was wedhed tightly in the mouth of the circular wall-hole.
Not a second too soon.
An instant later, a burst of water gushed out of the wall-hole, immedately followed by the jaws of a massive crocodile that slammed at tremendous speed into the X-Bar!
The croc roared angrily but its jaws were caught against the X-bar unable to get past. The rush of water sprayed all around Fuzzy, but didn't knock him over."
So the water fall followed by a crocodile.... Where was this crocodile? It was there awaiting patiently for 4000 years to the trap sprang? Talk about epic fail... both of the croc and the writer.
Just to finish. This main character twist the neck of a crocodile. AWESOME!!!
Eight The ending - So the Australians are invincible now. Ok, good. So the next two books Jack West is even more amazing than this one right? I like the part when Jack and Wizard talk about not saying anything to the Australians. So Australia will rule. How? Militaristic of economic? What will happen when one Australian tries to kill another? Their weapon will fail as Judah did? What?? Sorry. Weak Ending.[ So the Australians are invicible now. Ok, good. So the next two books Jack West is even more amazing than this one right? I like the part when Jack and Wizard talk about not saying anything to the Australians. So Australia will rule. How? Militaristic of economic? What will happen when one australian tries to kill another? Their weapon will fail as Judah did? What?? Sorry. Weak Ending. (hide spoiler)]
Now the positive parts
One The history bit. All the stories behind it. The connection between the Egyptians and the catholic church and the free masons. The connection between nowadays buildings and the ancient wonders. That part I liked. It's another way of seeing things.
Two The Americans are evil militaristic nation with the old European nations. The rest of the world must join and battle them. It was another change of setting. Usually the Americans are the good guys.
Three All the drawings and pictures inside the book really gave the book another feeling. Sometimes when I am reading a book with a detail information about something I sure would like to see a picture to make it easier. This book help me a lot. I really enjoy that. And For that I will give you a bonus star.
In the end my conclusion is this:
You wanna read a fast paced thriller in a plane or a train under 5/6/7 hours? Then I advice it to you. You wanna read a book alike Da Vinci Code, Go for it. Other person read at your own peril.
I would give one star. But the historic part and the drawings and pictures deserve a second star. Will I read the next one (that I bought after enjoying a lot Contest and thinking it would be similar)? Maybe. If I would want to read a fast paced book but soft on the mind.
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Monster of Metelaze by E.C. Tubb
My rating: 5 of 10 stars
This is the third book of a series written by Gregory Kern (aka EC Tubbs). It was better than the previous one. In this one you get to know a little more of Cap Kennedy sidekick.
A world is trying to escape the Galactic Empire and Kennedy and his crew are bound to find out what is happening. In this book we learn a bit of the backstory of some of the crew which was good.
Space Opera meets James Bond.
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Perfection by Nick Kyme
My rating: 7.5 of 10 stars
A good tale about a world that is besieged by the forces of Chaos Emperor’s Children and as things could get even worst for the inhabittants of Vardask the World Eaters arrive to "help" the invasion. Well, help is a strong word since they hate each other. When several champions of Slaanesh are slowly being murdered they start the accusations and threats to kill each other.
There is also an interesting side story about the Champions of Slaanesh and their search for "Perfection". Quite good tale. I really enjoy it. If I had a written story I Bet it would be better.
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Consider Phlebas by Iain M. Banks
My rating: 7 of 10 stars
This book took me one year to read. I was not impressed in the beginning or the middle for that matter. The end did improve stands but not so much that I want to read the second book. Let us see what the future holds.
This book deals mainly with a war between two empires if you want. Two points of view of the author. Horza view of the culture: "But the Culture, that seemingly disunited, anarchic, hedonist, decadent mélange of more or less human species..." - Or has he said after - Commnunist Utopia. In the other end (You've got the Ildrans the religious fanatics.
Horza, a changer.
"A Changer was a threat to anybody who ruled by force, either of will or of arms. Their was also a degree of human-basic revulsion reserved for Horza's species. Not only were they much altered from their original genetic stock, they were a threat to identity, a challenge to the individualism even of those they were never likely to impersonate. It had nothing to do with souls or physical or spiritual possession...
"...it was, as the Idirans well understood, the behaviouristic copying of another which revolted. Individuality, the thing most human held more precious than anything else about themselves, was somehow cheapened by the ease with which a changer could ignore it as a limitation and use it as a disguise."
My main problem was the politics. Some british writers are communists. Ken MacLeod, Iain Banks, Charles Stross, China Mieville to name a few. And My problem with them is that they try to teach us, common folk, a lesson on politics and why the left-wing is so great. Ken Macleod do that to an extent that I began reading two books and I stopped. I don't like preaching from left or right. I love to see left or right wing societies done but the author cannot be biases. That put's me of. I am sorry.
So, you've got Horza on a mission by the Idirans to salvage the ship's Culture Mind (AI) from a world that is blocked by the Idirans and the Culture. There he boards Clear Air Turbulance meets some people and uses them to his own end. We've got also spies, Balveda, who works for the Culture, you've got doom planets, the game of "Damage", cults and talking ships. It's very interesting.
One of the main out putters is some of the action leads to nowhere. In the other hand I really enjoyed the characterization and particularly the ending.
Looking back, as I write and remember the book, it was a good ride. If the book had less 100 pages and less left-wing ideals it would be great. Who knows when I shall read the second. For what I read it's better than the first.
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Eye of Vengeance by Graham McNeill
My rating: 2 of 10 stars
Another pointless story.
Eye of Vengeance is a story where the main characters are scouts and not Full Battle Brothers. But that doesn't mean they aren't as good as them. (In this case they are even better). Our, supposedly main character is Torias Telion, a veteran Scout-Sergeant of the Ultramarines who has served under three Chapter Masters and have train most of current crop of space marines.
We can see he has served for several centuries and it's an expert marksman and scout where captains of companies still rever him.
I think, for what I know of Uriel that Telion and Uriel must be best friends. The philosophy of codex is again put in question (as Uriel). It seems two of main figure of the Ultramarines don't like their primarch codex so much... Quite heretic don't you think?
Their mission is to destroy a factory of the Dark Mechanicus priests of the Bloodborn in Quintarn.
Criticism
1) The plot - Simple and straightforward. I expected a twist or something. It's a Ultramarines story about battle and honour and sacrifice.
2) Telion - A great character but what did he do on this tale? Nothing.
3) Money - I pay a lot for this. More than a regular novel and I got nothing in return. A weak short story that wouldn't be selected to an omnibus edition of the best tales of Black Library 40k.
Praises
1) The Ultramarines codex. I enjoy hearing this novel because Telion is not our "normal" ultramarine. He thinks for himself. A bit of Uriel as I said before but...
2)The Audiobook itself. The narration is good even if a bit simplistic in Telion voice. I expected a gruff voice but... (It's the problem with audiobooks. You imagine something and get other).
Side Notes
There aren't any sidenotes. Just the money I spend and won't get it back. Damn you.
Final Thoughts
Telion is a bad ass. Telion squad is better than full battle brothers. Telion don't adhere to the codex.
Advisable
3/10
None. Only a hardcore fan of ultramarines or someone with money. Believe me. It's not worth the €15. If you want to know what happened read here (view spoiler)[ Telion and his squad are bound to destroy a dark mechanicus factory and they do it. Not before a scout sacrifices himself to destroy a Titan - who moments before was criticise for being impetuous and not scout calibre by his collegues and defended by the almighty Telion. (hide spoiler)]
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Bloodquest : Prisoners of the Eye of Terror by Ben Counter
My rating: 4 of 10 stars
Hmm I have a mix feeling about this novel.
On one side I really liked the Blooquest Graphic Novel. It was one of my first insights on the Blood Angels and Space Marines in general. In the other hand I hope that the graphic novel had a new chapter. The search of Leonatos. When I heard about this audiobook I thought that was it. the continuation of that story but... I was mistaken.
This tale is set between two of those three books and that is always a problem. It can felt cheap and without purpose. In the end my mind was saying, "ok nice audiobook but was it really necessary?" Of course not. The milking cow of money is the best friend of the companies.
Some spoilers ahead...
Our Captain Leonatos and the three remaining space marines while travelling through the desert of Eidolon find a Prison where the banner of a IG Regiment is flowing. They try, nay, they save them for a living nightmare and escape to a oasis. While there they find a cave and the Space Marines are trap and the IG reveals themselves not so friendly because of ancient war where too many IG man fought and died alongside the BA and they attributed them the fault of the IG demise.
Too far fetch to my liking but okay.
Too many IG die each day in the name of Emperor. If all of them would rebel Terra would have fallen already.
In the end I enjoy the audiobook but knowing now the plot and the money I spend to get it I wouldn't have bought it. It has a weak plot and without any repucursions to our big tale. Nothing.
Advisable to whom?
To anyone who really really enjoys BL books and BA afficionados. To everyone else - not worth the money.
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Allison Hewitt Is Trapped by Madeleine Roux
My rating: 8 of 10 stars
This book was a little different than I expected. First of all I should have read it online for free (even without the last chapters). That's point number one.
This is YA Zombie Fiction. Expect a women trying to survive a zombie invasion while dealing not only with their normal problems (food, shelter and security) and at the same time trying to work out her heart problems.
Praises:
1) Roux wrote a book quite different from other writers but at the same time there isn't anything new. Confusing? Ok, so you've got a main character that deals "Where do I go if I want to go the toilet?" Try to remember the last book where a character in a hostile enviroment had to go to it. No? Try to remmeber a post apocalpytic novel (there isn't any running water)... Not one, right? So how would they do it? Put their ass out of the window? Where in the walking dead they do it? Not mention right? Roux nail it.
2) The other good thing about it's the blog existence. It's quite interesting. Every couple of days the main character wrote on a blog and people (Who had access to the internet) wrote in it.
3) The Main character - Alisson. She is quite a good character that evolves. In the beginning she has way of being more submissive but as the days pass she turns to a full growth woman with opinions and strong. She makes her own decisions. I really enjoy the evolution until the end.
4) The Preface and the Epilogue. This two parts give a lot of information about the world. It seems that "nowadays" (decades after the incident in the novel) the zombie infestation is contained or irradicated. But the Epilogue made me mad. I didn't enjoy the ending (read my criticism) but the epilogue made me mad in a good way. (view spoiler)[A professor says to someone who is writing a book that our main character should receive a mention in her book about the "Zombie Invasion" and in the end, supposedly, after reading the blog, our author says that he must be crazy to even consider her because she is not that relevant and besides she is not that good. She killed persons and such. This made me mad because this supposedly author didn't even had to face zombies (I imagine) so he couldn't conceive what this people had to do to survive. It's a criticism and good one. People often criticize things they don't understand because they weren't there. They don't understand that a person must do everything to survive. Well ramblings of my mind... (hide spoiler)]
5) The writing. Fast but at the same time had moments of slow motion as our main character introspects.
Criticism
1) The Ending - I din't enjoy it. Quite frankly. (view spoiler)[It ended to nicely for my taste. Roux just wrapt the things so it had an happy ending. Ok, so she didn't find her mother but at least she got the guy right? Frankly people, it's a zombie apocalpyse. Everyone would lose somebody. (hide spoiler)]
2) Other characters - They are not developed as good as Alisson. They are just there. Strange as half the book when she goes to the school to band with other members they accept her from the start and the commander or leader befriends her from day one.
Side Notes:
1) The existence of an working internet without password. Dubious but okay.
2) The zombies. They are just there. That's it. Not a criticism and neither a compliment. There are two types of zombies in the main character perspective and that's it. This novel if focus on our main character and her problems not on the zombies. You could take off the zombies from this novel and it would be a post apocalpytic fiction and only a couple of parts of the book would had to be change.
3) The Crazy People. The Wives...
4) The Dog. Good doggie. Nice Doggie.
Final Thoughts
7/10
In the end I like the book but I don't know if I am going to read the next one. It's a different character... Maybe if the book cost less than €6.
Advisable?
Yes. To people who like a strong main character and a different way of writing a book.
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Cartas na Mesa by Agatha Christie
My rating: 6 of 10 stars
This was another good Agatha Christie book. With four suspects we find ourselves embroiled in their lifes. Everyone of them as a reason and probably has killed before. Who was it? I really enjoy the book since we are presented not only by Herculae Poirot but also from other characters from other books... Ariadne Oliver, Superintendent Battle and Colonel Race.
This was probably the first book, from Agatha Christie, that I found out who the murder was.
This is a quick read with only 200 pages (in portuguese) where the main antagonist is jailed but two of the other three members suffer from their past crimes. One drowns and other hang himself. The other, even if he killed someone, is found out not guilty so Agatha Christie gives him a "happy" ending.
There are several instances that other characters and poirot give information about other works (even the solution from one of the crimes).
Agatha Christie to me is as always a quick easy and safe read.
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The Vanishment by Jonathan Aycliffe
My rating: 6 of 10 stars
Well well well...
What can be said about this book?
With less than 230 pages I hope something fast paced, and having read other books by the author like "The Matrix" or "the Lost" I hope something reminiscent but unfortunately it wasn't. I don't think the book is/was bad but I think it was not as good.
This novel is more akin to some old gothic novel in terms of pace and story. There isn't much fright evolved (probably the last 20 pages have some supernatural phenomenons).
Basically a couple go to a house for some vacation and the woman dislike the house and warns the husband of it. After a couple of days, the woman disappears and there is a investigation. Nothing comes up. Afterwards the man goes back to London where he stay at a friends house. Their daughter (The friends's) start saying stuff he read on reports on the house they stay almost a century before. Months afterwards his wife turns out dead. He then learns that the previous owner wife also vanish in that same house.
Soon afterwards their friends have an accident and they are both killed. The man then takes the child to that house to try to get rid of the curse.
In the end we get some strange connections, a bit far-fetched some, but all works out... There is a final "fright" and we learn a bit more about the main character past.
I hope for a different ending but as I said I think the author try to make some ode to old Gothic tales... why do I say this? Well, only in the last 30 pages or so, we learn that the man had a child and due to his drinking problem he got violent and killed his child. Still his wife kept with him (he was arrest 5 years). I thought that the author, since he only in the end, release that information, was trying to say that everything was in his mind and the drinking problem... i say this because there are several instances he was drinking AND because when he was at the house he thought he wrote several short stories and sent to his editor. Later on the Editor says that indeed he received his work BUT it was only one short story that basically told the house horror tale.... BUT it seems the writer was not going that way...
Nevertheless, good story - I read it in 3 days that means something, no?
Unfortunately it felt old, out of pace and the ending disappointed me with the confrontation of the supernatural being. The good parts; well the rural feeling, the story of the house, the child and the dread from the last 20/30 pages.
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Report on the Barnhouse Effect by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
My rating: 3 of 10 stars
A professor with psychic powers is getting nervous because of his abilities. He can throw dices several times and get the numbers he want but he also can destroy anything with the power of his mind. He tries to get help from a friend but he can't help him so he says that he must talk with someone in the goverment. When the military test him to destroy an incomming missil he escapes because he doesn't want to be another weapon. A chase with other agents from other countries he destroys himself so the knowledge would get to unfriendly hands... But it seems the friend of the professor is getting new powers as well..
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The City and the Stars by Arthur C. Clarke
My rating: 6.5 of 10 stars
This was my Second book by Arthur C Clarke. The first being is magnus opus 2001 Space Odyssey.
This book was a kind of different from what I am used to read but I really want to learn more about the first steps given in SFF and Fantasy. Having almost every book in both Sci-fi and Fantasy Masterwork's collection by Gollancz this was a good start.
There are many topics on this book.
-IA (The all of Diaspar is controlled by thinking machines)
-Immortality (All inhabitants live for a thousand years and then transfer their mind to a great machine that gives them a new body after several hundred thousand years
-Virtual Reality (Basicly the everyday of the inhabitants of Diaspar that don't do anything besides that).
-Socialogy (How a human would react of being immortal and how would that affect society)
-Clash between two Societies (Diaspar, technology advanced with immortal humans and the other hand Lys where all citizens are telepaths and don't relie on technology to survive.
The book started fast and I was really hooked then it stopped and so I stopped reading for a couple of weeks and started again and painfully try to finish it. The end was another interesting part.
Alvin the Unique, our main character is a different human from it's kind living on the immortal city of Diaspar. There he tries to find out what happenning outside the closed walls of his city. With the help of Khedron the Jester whose duty it is in Diaspar to introduce calculated amounts of disorder from time to time and consequently has access to unusual places, he leaves Diaspar and travels to Lys where he finds a human settlement where he befriends some of them. There he finds a being that protects a machine that will lead Alvin throughout the space to unravel the history of mankind.
This book has one particular interesting situation where when Alvin returns to Diaspar with the news that there is life outside the city some people run and commit suicide (they run to Hall of Creation where their current life will end and they will start again in a couple hundred centuries with the memories they want). This book deals with progression vs conservatism. Of a new way of living (don't forget that this book was written in the 50's where science was getting his big steps).
My personal feelings is that this book has a nice story of Science Fiction with a good background but with poor character development besides Alvin.
Some interesting quotes:
"It never occured to Alvin that Alystra was beautiful, for he had never seen human ugliness. When beauty is universal, it loses its power to move the heart, and only its absence can produce any emotional effect". (pag 32)"
"Interesting little setting created by one of the masters of Sci-Fi. A world where human beings are being "born"/"created" in a perfect city. There they live a thousand years and then download their memories, editing them at their will, and after a some millenia are reborn again with those memories. A world where humans live their lives in a matrix/virtual world experiencing new things all day."
Would I advice it to you?
If you want to read a good science fiction book yes. This is one of those writers/books you know start the revolution of Science fiction.
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House of Fear by Jonathan Oliver
My rating: 6 of 10 stars
This was an interesting reading.
I don't know why but usually I am not a big fan of short stories but I am afraid delving into a mammoth book of 600 pages or multi-books series, even at the same time I want to read several series I've got here. But since the other way I slept in my mother's home and having no books to read I started this one and what and it was a bag of mix feelings.
'Pied-A-Terre' by Stephen Volk is a nice tale about the purchasing of a house. I really was interested in the tale even if a bit predictable (reminded me of a gothic tale of the old days). It seems it had some truthful in it.
'In The Absence of Murdock' by Terry Lamsley is a tale that very much nods its head to Ramsey Campbell and Jules Verne. Although it is set in modern times, it does lean itself to a very Victorian feel. The final paragraph lends itself to a classic Victorian ghost story with true invention.
'Driving The Milky Way' by Weston Ochse was in interesting view on the term "house". House is where your heart is I guess. Nice interesting tale that delve into friendship and regret. Good tale.
'The Windmill' by Rebecca Levene has a supernatural setting about a convict and his odd partner in the cell. Good characterization by Levene.
'Moretta' by Garry Kilworth was a good tale set in rural england (Gothic story again) with a lovecraftian feeling.
'The Dark Space in the House in the House in the Garden at the Centre of the World' is God/Paradise setting with nice twist in the end. I enjoy the "God" parts more than the humans. (it's strange, you've got to read it to understand what I am saying).
'An Injustice' by Christopher Fowler is one of my favourite. It left me breathing hard until the very end. It's depressing and you will live as the main character. Believe me when I say that. It left me sad. Good Tale Mr Fowler.
'The Room Upstairs' by Sarah Pinbourough it was a nice tale about a robber as he stay in a haunted house as he waited for orders. It was a nice horror story with a good happy ending.
'Villanova' by Paul Meloy is a okay tale that is safe by the ending which leave you breathless. The ending apart deserves a five star rating.
'The Doll's House' by Jonathan Green is a horrifying tale that will grab you by your throat even if a bit predictable in the end.
'Trick of the Light' by Tim Lebbon was a good tale and other that will make you wonder about love and what means to have a haunted house.
'What Happened To Me' by Joe R Lansdale was a fitting ending. It starts slowly and you get a Arthur Machen/Lovecraftian horror tale. It was a good tale about a tale that is "True".
In the end I was satisfied and a couple of these writers are very good and probably I will try reading other tales by them.
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Cthulhu's Dark Cults by David Conyers
My rating: 7 of 10 stars
After reading Cthulhu's Dark Cults my interest in Lovecraftian horror changed... Before all I must say that Lovecraftian Horror is my favourite type/kind of horror. With other kinds of horror you feel fright, disgust but in the end, most of the times it ends well. And most of the time our "hero" surpasses everything with nothing but scratches and such.
In lovecraftian horror there is a sense of hopelessness and something more great than our puny little lives. It's a cosmic reality that transcends everything and we cannot thwart it.
Now for the the stories.
The Eternal Chinaman by John Sunseri 4/5
Location: San Francisco 1920
Perspective: First Person
Evil Cult/Characters: Dagon and Lang-Fu
Cthulhu's Mythos: The manuscripts of Alhazred and Sharinza; Liver of Nephren-Ka (The reason that Gomorrah and Pompeii were destroyed)
Favourite phrase: "You can die," said Lang-Fu plainly. "I cannot".
Synopsis: In this first story we follow the story of an italian that has been traveling/working around the world and now just wants some fun in his hometown. Coincidentally he meets his cousin, a magician, that needs a bodyguard for one day because he is being threatened by some Chinese that want something he have.
The story unfolds and we meet another side of San Francisco. The bar of Mama Tropos, the chase and the final show of the Magician. I would be interested in reading more of Lang-Fu and Mama Tropos. Unfortunately it failed to deliver an horror element.
Captains of Industry by John Goodrich 2/5
Location: Boston 1921
Perspective: Third Person
Evil Cult/Characters: Hermetic Order of the Silver Twilight, Carl Stanford and John Scott
Cthulhu's Mythos: Mention of some books on the stands.
Synopsis: One thing I must say. Goodrich really capture the feeling of the strikes and the trade unions. I didn't enjoy much of this story. János and Dimitri were good characters nevertheless
Perfect Skin by David Witteveen 3/5
Location: Instabul, Turkey 1922
Perspective: Third Person
Evil Cult/Characters: Brotherhood of the Skin
Cthulhu's Mythos: This tale is told in the third person view and for that it failed to achieve one of the fundamentals, in my opinion, of lovecraftian horror. The story itself could have been written outside the Lovecraft Mythos after changing one or references.
Favourite phrase: "Her eyes... her eyes were black now. Not blue. Phelps touched her face. The skin is loose, like a mask made of flesh. Then she
Synopsis: There's some cult that after skins/flay someone and uses the skin to his own machinations. The ending was the best part but it could be only a horror story. Phelps was a good character. I think this story could have been written differently from his own perspective.
Covenant of Darkness by William Jones 4/5
Location: New York 1923
Perspective: First Person
Evil Cult: Ghouls
Cthulhu's Mythos: This short story connects with a book written by the same author "The Strange Cases of Rudolph Pearson".
Favourite phrase: "Right or wrong are becoming difficult for me to distinguish of late." / "We see what we want to see," I opined.
Synopsis: This story had a noir setting in my opinion and probably one of the best even if a bit short. A policeman (Leahy) and a professor (Miss Gabriel) have an encounter from a pack of deformed beings (ghouls) that want something back. Here again we have the feeling that there is something out there but it's best not to reveal to the public.
The Whisper of Ancient Secrets by Penelope Love 2/5
Location: Buchan, Victoria, Australia 1925
Perspective: First Person
Evil Cult/Characters: Cult of the Sand Bat / Robert Huston
Cthulhu's Mythos: Some references like Haunter of the Dark and some ramblings in the language of the old gods.
Favourite phrase: "I feel rather shaken. I think I might made a mistake."
Synopsis:
This was a confusing story about a troubled inventor who wants to go the Mad Court and the only way to reach it's through the intercession of the Haunter of the Dark. I am afraid I couldn't understand most of the story. It felt really confusing. I won't rate it for it.
Old Ghost by Peter A Worthy 2/5
Location: Shangai, 1926
Perspective: First Person (Letters)
Evil Cult/Characters: Order of the Bloated Woman / Ho Fong
Cthulhu's Mythos:
Favourite phrase: "Goodbye, my friend. You have done your kaptein proud. I'll carry the torch from here. We won't meet again this side of Heaven."
Synopsis: A nice mystery tale about a man who is going to Shangai to live after the dead of his love one (the person who he is writing letters). Interesting tale that really flow but unfortunally I didn't understood the ending.
The Nature of Faith by Oscar Rios 3/5
Location: Dunwich 1927
Perspective: First Person
Evil Cult /Characters: Not so evil Believers / Mother Bishop.
Cthulhu's Mythos:
Favourite phrase: "Faith, my dear professor Malcolm, is belief without proof." She smiled. " Ya can't prove love exists, but it does. Ya know such a thing. Ya feel it with every bit of your soul. Come to think of it, ya can't really prove there's a soul either. Et's all a matter of faith."
Synopsis: An history professor comes across a Manx (celtic) coin that appears to be coined in the New World. He traces it back to Dunwich. Interesting tale, Gerdy was a good character, the only one that I enjoy for that matter. The ending had a good revelation, worth the reading.
The Devil's Diamonds by Cody Goodfellows 2/5
Location: Galla Tribal lands Kenya 1930
Perspective: First Person
Evil Cult /Characters: Cult of the Bloody Tongue / Nyarlathotep
Favourite phrase:
Synopsis:
I really couldn't connect with this tale. It's about a diamond mine that his being held hostage from a cult who plans to summon their god. When you think that's over thing again. Okay tale.
Requiem for the Burning God by Shane Jiraiya Cummings 1/5
Location: Calhao, Peru 1932
Perspective: First Person
Evil Cult/Characters: New World Industries
Favourite phrase: "... waiting with the patience of aeons to be picked up and played once again."
Synopsis:
Like the previous one but with a couple of differences. It is a bigger tale but not so much interesting. I really skip parts. At times I really think that this story went nowhere. The ending was the best part... because it ended.
Sister of the Sands by David Conyers 5/5
Location: White Desert, Egypt 1933
Perspective: First Person
Evil Cult / Characters: Brotherhood of the Black Pharaoh / Omar Shakti.
Cthulhu's Mythos: Masked Messenger. Black Pharaoh is know by many names. The eternal Chinaman calls him Nephren-Ka, Turkey he is the Skinless one, Kenya is Bloated Tongue, Morroco is Masked Messenger or in Congo is Spiraling Worm and Australia is Sand Bat or aka Nyarlathotep (page229)
Favourite phrase: (Explaining love to woman, the child of the Masked Messenger) "At these words the black cat leapt from my arms, disappearing off my balcony into a tree, and was gone. "Why did it do that?" - I shrugged. "He'll be back. Part of loving someone, is allowing them to be themselves."
Synopsis:
The best tale no doubt. Interconnected with almost every tale but mostly with Perfect Skin. The beginning, the quest, the mystery and mainly the pseudo-history lesson about the mythos was great.
Overall, besides a couple of stories I learn didn't enjoy. First of all, the lovecraftian tales of horror must be told in the first person perspective (in my opinion of course) and second some of them didn't had neither horror or that eerie feeling Lovecraft had. Inevitable doom was not upon me.
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Murder in Three Acts by Agatha Christie
My rating: 8 of 10 stars
No doubt a good Agatha Christie novel. Couldn't figure it out who the killer and I was suprised. I really was.
My problem with the book was the lack of... Herculae Poirot. More than half the book has no Poirot in it. The "play" is set by three other characters. Mr Satterthwaite, Sir Charles Cartwright and the lovely Egg.
This book doesn't lack characters with their own motifs but several of them are quite bland with no interest.
It was a gush of fresh air to see who the murderer was. Who have thought that Sir Charles would be doing the murderer... even if out of love. But murdering his wife and one of the best friend? No love is greater than that. It remind me of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.
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Biohazard by Tim Curran
My rating: 8 of 10 stars
A fast paced apocalpytic novel about a world were a nuclear war devastated the world. I really am enjoying the scenary that Curran describes. The first couple dozen pages are easily one of the best introductions I read in apocalpytic novel. It gives a magnitude that all is death or dying and the gore just fill the pages.
There are also amazing new beings fruit of nuclear fallout or even the description of the plagues. Tim Curran had a great imagination and gives us a bleak scenario. From page one he gets us into the turmoil that it's the life of our main character.
There are also some interesting beasts called the Children or Corpse worm (giant maggots) or even the Scabs (mutants).
The Red Rain is also a side effect of all nuclear fallout and the thing that it's calling Rick (our main character) called The Shape. As they travel west the book gets quick and quicker. The Shape is really a sick.. thingy that desires a human sacrifice.
Along came Janie (the new love of our "Hero") and two guys called Carl and Texas Clim who are always messing with one another. The images and beings that populated this radiated planet are very interesting and... vivid.
"Will you scream whhen I take Janie, your sweet little cherry away from you? Or will you barter for your own miserable life as her flesh blackens with the pox, as she drowns in a yellow sea of her own infected waste and diseased blood bursts from her pores and she vomits out the black slime of her own liquified intestines?" -- Hmm.. it reminds me of Nurgle of the Warhammer World:)"
Some imaginery. This writer really can write good (in a sort of twisted way) about death, virus, pestilance and such other niceties... Unfortunately the story is falling in a repetition phase. Kill, move city, new monsters, kill them and them move city."
As the journey ends what did we learn? Life is fvcked up there. We are the lions or we are dead (or worse). So the question remains... What is The Shape? Maybe as Price said is the ultimate cosmic chaos born of nuclear fision. And what is the thing that follows them? Are they team up for a reason? Maybe SOMEONE or SOMETHING got a plan? Or are they marching to death?
The ending is quite good. (view spoiler)[The clash between the Shape and Medusa and the bleak scenario of a man who have seen it all... and reminds himself of a story... One of the best horror short stories... "The last man on earth sat alone in a room. There was a knock at the door" It was Death... (hide spoiler)]
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Night Shift by Stephen King
My rating: 9 of 10 stars
After some consideration I made my mind.
Most of these stories are very good. Fortunally. But a couple of them are bad (in my opinion of course).
My favourite was undboutbly Graveyard Shift with The Boogeyman; Quitters, Inc. and The Ledge close behind.
Before hand I must say I see a lot of other newer writers drawing their influences from here.
Jerusalem's Lot - This is a prequel of some sorts of Salem's Lot. It deals with the theme and the foundations of the city but not with the same characters. A good tale. In these tale and the Graveyard's Shift we see the influence of Lovecraft's. 8/10
Graveyard Shift - One of the best short stories I've ever read. It ends with the same tone some of HP Lovecraft stories. Rats in the Walls come to my mind as I think of it. - As a man tries to grab some extra work he explores a basement where are rats bigger than cats. With a dozen collegues and a bossy foreman they must not only clean but survive. Excelent finale. 10/10
Night Surf Probably a first attempt to The Stand which came a couple of years later. A post apocalyptic scenario where most of the population died of a Virus. A couple of friends (survivors of a previous disease called A2) thing of themselves imnunes until one of them dies. Confusing story. 5/10
I Am the Doorway Sci-Fi at it's worst. Didn't enjoy the little story. Weakest of the bunch. 3/10
The Mangler A story where daemons take care of a... machine? Excelent story. 9/10
The Boogeyman This story reminds me of one I read a couple of months ago called. A man confess that he is guilty by omission of the dead of his child. Quite interesting psychological tale. 9/10
Grey Matter Another good one. A couple guys in a bar help a boy getting his wits 'cause he has travelled through the snowstorm to get some beers for his father. He says that his father is changing. Good tale and another one that ends "well" 7.5/10
Sidenote: Like most stories so far, every story ends not with an happy ending but with the feeling Lovecraft was so kin to give his stories than unpending doom will befall them eventually.
Battleground Good tale about a hitman arrives at his home with a box where he finds a collection of plastic action figures that are more than it seems. Quite interesting tale with only a couple of dialogues. I saw the movie and it had no dialogue. Good tale. 8/10
Trucks Another tale that ends badly. Quite interesting to see how machines could rule the world and humanking be his cattle. Another pessimistic ending. 8/10
Sometimes They Come Back Another weak story in my opinion. I didn't enjoy. It seems that he got a trilogies of movies. I will try to watch it.
Strawberry Spring This story was a good one. A story in two phases. The NOW and the EIGHT YEARS BEFORE where the narrator tells us about a serial killer who was never caught and after a new murder in the same way he begins to wonder what has been he up to. 7/10
The Ledge One of the best stories in this novel and probably the first that ends with a good perspective for the main character. A man is blackmail into going to circumnavigate a Skyscraper on a ledge. If he can do it he will earn money, the wife of the blackmailer (whom he was in love), if don't do it his car will be discovered with drugs in it. Good story. It really gave me the shivers as he slides a 5 inch ledge. 9.5/10
The Lawnmower Man It seems there is a company that deals with lawnmower so you can relax. But not everything is at it seems. Bently Little all written in it as the new short story. 7/10
Quitters, Inc. Ahh.. smoke. How to get rid of it. If you can't do it yourself we will make your wife and child do it for you. So good my god. Why hasn't Stephen King wrote more short stories with this kind of tales. 10/10
I Know What You Need So what do womens wants? What if a man really do? Can he control her with everything she wants? A good tale about love and horror. Cthulhu mythos is a reference here with Necronomicon. 8/10
Children of the Corn Probably one of the best and known stories of Lovecraft due to the imensity of films (10 films so far) released it. There is also references in multi series and films. South Park and Simpsons on the top of my head. Nice story about a town, surrounded by corn, but with no residents with the exception of children who worship a pagan slash christian god called "He Who Walks Behind the Rows" probably a reference to Randall Flagg. Quite interesting tale. 10/10
The Last Rung on the Ladder Is a tale going back and forth as a man remembers his young years in a barn where he saved his little sister and how she wanted him to save him again. Unfortunally the letter arrived to late because he had grown apart from his family and when changing his house didn't inform his family. Quite good psychological thriller/horror. 8.5/10
The Man Who Loved Flowers Interesting Weird Tale. Perfect Serial Killer. I don't need to say more. 9/10
One for the Road This story is Salem's Lot sequel a couple of local residents help a guy, in blizzard's winter, to reach the wife and child that are stranded on Jerusalem's Lot. Even knowing of the peril in that city they try to help. Good ending. This story had some eerie feeling. This and "Grey's Matter". I really enjoy them both. I really enjoy Cold and Winter. 8.5/10
The Woman in the Room this book deals with euthanasia and the story of a son and a bedridden mother. What shall he do? See his mother in pain for the sake of being alive or helping slip away? 8/10
So after writing my short stories synopsis/opinion I will give this book 5 stars. The good ones surpasse the bads and a couple of the stories will be with me. I will read them again. Stephen King is the King of Short-Stories. But long lenghed novels are boring because he dwell so much on each character that gets bored. That's my opinion...
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