Top 10 Books for 2021

Best of Books of 2021 - With 93 books read (URRAH) and over 25000 pages it was a very good year.

There were some good books and some really bad. So let's start with the disappointing reads of the year... Undoubtable Caitlin Kiernan was my top list. High expectations and really weird fiction.

Imago Sequence and other stories another one that really disappointed me. Books of Blood volume 2 & 3 (loved Book of Blood 1), Mysteries of the Worm , The Long Tomorrow, Elevation & This Present Darkness.

Top ten books with honourable mentions

The Wrack, Karnov: Phantom-Clad Rider of the Cosmic Ice, Prince of Thorns, The Haunted Forest Tour, And High Planes Drifter (Merkabah Rider #1)

10 Trolley No. 1852

9 Lost Fleet Victorious

8 Blood and Steel

7 Kill team

6 Thrune Visions

5 Lost Stars (Audiobook)

4 The Martian

3 Skarsnik

2 Deacon of Wounds

1 Ender's Game

Note: After making this list I notice I forgot Uzumaki which would sit at number 7.

For next year I am going to aim for 100 books

Thoughts: Reading Challenge - 1000 Novels - Info Dump

 I like to control what I read. I like to make objectives and going for it.

So, this year I made a goal of reading 75 novels and I accomplished them with 2 months to go. This month of September I read 13 novels !!! UAU! That's 3681 pages!! more than 100  per day which I never did before and this month I arrived at 1000 books in goodreads read.

I've read more than 1000 novels but I only started counting in 2004 so what's before I didn't put anywhere. Some I remember and put it others I don't even remember so they are not important EhEh.

Well, so what can I say about my 1000 books (well 1012 now)

It's seems that my favourite genres are:

- Sci Fi (374 - Bear in mind that  this includes 87 Dr Who audiobooks)
- Horror (238)
- Fantasy (231)
- Thriller (43)
- Mystery (42) (most of them Agatha Christie)

In terms of Writers 

Besides Anthologies which have 58 novels we've got:

Agatha Christie 39
Nicholas Briggs 22 (Dr Who)
Brian Keene 17
Dan Abnett 16
Stephen King 16
R A Salvatore 15
Sandy Mitchell 12
Hideyuki Kikuchi 12
Bentley Little 11
Simon Guerrier 11 (Dr Who)
Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman 11
Brian Stableford 10
Steve Lyons 10

But this doesn't show the ratings

So only counting with 8 to 10 we've got with over 4 novels:

Dan Abnett  14 (Black Library)
R A Salvatore 13
Anthology 12 (Half are (Black Library))
Agatha Christie 8
Brian Keene 8
William King 7 (Black Library)
Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman 6
C L Werner 6 (Black Library)
Bentley Little 6
Steve Lyons 5 (Black Library)
J K Rowling 4
Anthony Reynolds 4 (Black Library)
Nathan Long 4 (Black Library)
Stephen King 4
Nicholas Briggs 4
Gordon Rennie 4 (Black Library)

So this is something, no? And there is a pattern - my favorite novels are either horror OR they are from Black Library authors. I have to concentrate more reading 8 to 10 authors... 

I've read 498 different authors - That's impressive, no?

Out of these 317 I've read 1 novel

So what now?

I will try reading 100 pages per day (probably aiming for 80 or so) because it's more realistic.

Year 1      2      3      4       5    Total % Pos

2005 3 5 10 3 12 33 45,45

2006 2 1 8 16 18 45 75,56

2007 6 4 13 5 18 46 50,00

2008 2 9 15 19 15 60 56,67

2009 5 7 14 14 13 53 50,94

2010 5 12 31 36 18 102 52,94

2011 1 3 13 23 17 57 70,18

2012 0 4 17 22 14 57 63,16

2013 5 18 25 28 11 87 44,83

2014 5 16 26 35 9 91 48,35

2015 2 7 16 5 3 33 24,24

2016 2 34 36 15 5 92 21,74

2017 0 2 8 10 2 22 54,55

2018 0 3 4 6 1 14 50,00

2019 2 2 10 4 1 19 26,32

2020 2 13 17 9 6 47 31,91

2021 5 22 14 25 8 74 44,59

Book Review: Alien: Out of the Shadows / Alien: Sea of Sorrows / Alien: River of Pain (October Horror Fest 31/31)

Three in one to finish this season's halloween . Bear in mind that the first one I've read in September but the later two were read in October

Author: Tim Lebbon
Book: Alien: Out of the Shadows
Year: 2014
Pages: 352
Part of Series: Canonical Alien Trilogy #1
Reading Time: 1 day (22 September)
Rating: 7 stars

This was a good fast read / hear to be honest. I've heard it via audiobook. I believe this was done as to be audiodrama instead of full length audiobook unless there is no narrator. With 5h length I think it was very well performed. With a vast cast of 5 or 6 voices it really help getting into the story.

This story is set in-between the first and second movie at 37 years after the first movie. If you remember the second alien movie was set 70 years or so after the first.

In this novel we get some more information about xenomorphs and how they move Frome one place to another. We get some more info on the travellers that we will meet in Prometheus movie. There are some references also to predators haunting aliens.

We get a new tale of Ripley and to me it's always a nice input.

This novel feels like the first and the second with a lot of fighting in the ship, where it's passengers are being hunted ( horror like in the first movie) and some fighting in the planet like the second movie. Both more survival horror compared with the third - more action or fourth ( more sci-fi and crap).

The author made a good story and it made my day go faster. I now want to hear the 2 and 3 novels.

PS: just don't expect anything besides alien porn filler novels to enhance your knowledge

Author: James A. Moore

Book: Alien: Sea of Sorrows

Year: 2014

Pages: 352

Part of Series:  Canonical Alien Trilogy #2

Reading Time: 5 days (9 October to 13 October)

Rating: 6 Rating

I've been reading this trilogy in audiobooks. As you know I am totally against ebooks but audiobooks it's another thing. I mean, everything to read more, right? And e-books save no time after all if I can grab a phone to read it I can grab a book. The same does not apply with audio. So, while jogging, working I've been hearing some audiobooks. This was my second novel (the first one I publish a review a couple of weeks ago).

This was is not a audiobook transcription of the novel but audiodrama with full cast - which I really enjoy - the previous forays were Doctor Who & Black Library. The voice acting are very good and it really immerse one with the story. Pure audiodrama unless by a very good voice actor it's boring and make wanna sleep.

So, this second tale reminds me of Aliens (the second movie) when Ripley is in the mines and Xenos everywhere. Here we are in the future and you've got a descendent of Ripley (which seems has some capabilities of knowing what people are feeling - kind of empath) as he is task to find and capture a xenomorph. We've got some info dump on the aliens (think Prometheus) and you've got some good horrific depictions of the aliens and really trying to make a bit of claustrophobia.

Overall very good but there are some complains - first of all it's the full length characters that exist to die and unfortunately you know it's going to happen. Then the xenomorphs point of view makes us wonder their intelligence and even asks more questions about their hatred against Ripley and Ripley descendants. Question - is there only one colony of Xenos? I don't know... I always thought Xenos were more like Tyranids without the hive mind behind telling what to do. So she destroy a couple of queens (I believe 2 - aliens and the fourth alien movie but I may be mistaken) and now everyone hates her? Then it's the timeline - so we are in the future (several hundreds years after Ripley) but everything else stayed the same? Weapons, technology, the xenomorphs didn't appear that much - are they still virtual unknown?

Btw, I have to give a star just due to special effects and acting of characters - Pretty good to be quite honest - at times I thought I was watching a movie with such vivid sensorial experience. 

Author: Christopher Golden

Book: Alien: River of Pain

Year: 2014

Pages: 352

Part of Series:  Canonical Alien Trilogy #3

Reading Time: 3 days (13 October to 15 October)

Rating: 8 Rating

Well it was a very interesting reading experience. I've been reading this when I Go to work since they are not overly complex.

This was a very good read I must say.

What you have here is a story set between the first and second movie.

The first movie was very horror claustrophobic experience. The second novel was more action, less horror yet it was one of my favourite to be honest. But I always thought that the situation they find themselves in should be more explain. How come one entire colony was destroyed (more than 100 people). We've got some glimpses I believe in the aliens extended version but it's never really that much developed. Therefore this novel was a must.

This is a audiodrama so you've got dozens of people making all voices and special effects. Very cool to see some characters that are mentioned in the movie (not counting the survivor NEWT). So as you hearing/reading you know that Newt will be the only survivor BUT now you really know how all t happened.

A must read for people who love horror mix with sci-fi mix with action. Also advisable to Alien lover who want to read more about them 

Book Review: Karnov: Phantom-Clad Rider of the Cosmic Ice (2019) Matthew Knight, Howie K. Bentley and Byron A. Roberts

Author: Matthew Knight, Howie K. Bentley and Byron A. Roberts
Book: Karnov: Phantom-Clad Rider of the Cosmic Ice
Year: 2019
Pages: 204
Part of Series: Solo
Genre: Sword and Sorcery
Reading Time:  28 February to 8 March 2021
Rating: 7 Stars


First of all this book was not written solely by Matthew Knight but also Howie K Bentley & Byron A Roberts.

In true - the novel was written like this- first write wrote a several short stories (around 30 pages) and then another write taking in consideration of that tale and then the last. In the end the first take was 90 pages and the second one was 110. (ish)

The writing is not similar at all. Byron from Bal-Sagoth is without doubt the best writer and his prose show. Although since I am not a english speaking native some stuff I had to search for - which for me it's great. Bentley is also a interesting writer and Matthew was to me the weakest - althought lets be real still far better than most writers I've beeng reading. Without doubt they enjoy sword and sorcery - Bal sagoth was memorable, so memorable than I couldn't read this without remember one of their song.. I will put here for ye...

Thwarted By The Dark (Blade Of The Vampyre Hunter)
The contemplations of Joachim Blokk:
As my sword drips black now with the unclean blood of another slain fiend, it
Occurs to me that history will most probably record me a fanatic... as for
More years than I care to remember I have dedicated my life to the caseless
Pursuit and destruction of the loathsome undead. Indeed, it was long ago that
I commenced with the wreaking of my grim vengeance upon the denizens of the
Dark, and by the blade of my sorcerous katana, Fiend's Bane, I vow they shall
All pay for taking my beloved from me! Fanatic? Mayhap. But by all the gods of
Vengeance, I'll leave a fearsome legacy 'ere I die... a legacy wrought in
Retributive bloodshed and screaming terror!

Drowned in the icy lake of tragedy
Forged in the fires of revenge
Driven by the winds which compel a man to destiny
Haunted by the whispers of the dead

Blood is black in the moonlight
As it was when I pierced the heart of my betrothed
Blood is black in the moonlight
Her undead gaze gleaming ire upon me
Blood is black in the moonlight
I held aloft her head to my grim gods
Blood is black in the moonlight
(Now I am eternally bonded to my blade)
And ever I am thwarted by the dark!

Gods of wrath, hear my vow... sate me with revenge this night!
Come to me, darksome fiends, taste the edge of ensorcelled steel!
Night has fallen, the hunt begins...
Vengeful carnage 'neath the moon!

And as I put brand to her pyre, I swore then to my gods that those vile
Creatures who tore the life and hope from my beloved's breast and replaced it
With that unspeakable sanguineous ravening would repay a hundredfold in
Slaughter and bloodshed for their misdeed... I would hunt them to their
Worm-ridden tombs, wherever they crept or slithered upon the earth, and wreak
My honed steel revenge ceaselessly unto my own grave. Such was my vow!

Aye, this bride of Masayuki steel, ensorcelled by wizards at its forging... to
Me she is as pure as the newly fallen snow, kissed by the breeze at dusk...
And yet she has supped deep of the ichors of many men and fiends alike

Shadow spawned demons ravening for my blood
Yet the thirst of my blade is greater!
Aye, all they shall feast upon this night will be cold steel!
I hear the slither of scales on silk
Fiend's Bane replete with undead slaughter!

I am the scourge of the devils who dwell in darkness...
(but the darkness writhing in my own soul is so much deeper...)
Their flesh burns at the touch of my blade of searing vengeance
And I cast their malign spirits screaming into limbo!

Darkfall, and the autumn moon glimmers on my steel...
Now it is time to hunt and slay once more
For the night has come!

Change the name from Joachim to Karnov and you've got the resumé of this take.
This is a tale of revenge from Karnov a vampire killer against all manners of vampirism after having to kill his wife and child that were turn into vampirism.

So the land was invaded by vampires while Karnov was fighting somewhere else and Karnov without anything to lose he thrown himself against the army of vampires. With the help of D'Vartha and later on a vampire Arsenthine they go from place to place killing vampires. I really thought reading this I was in another bal-sagoth novel but focused on Vampire Hunter D/Castlevania.

I've also bought Lord Byron Caylen-Tor novel and I will read it in the coming weeks.
I am enjoying the sword and sorcery themes and returning to the origins.

Advisable to sword and sorcery, bal-sagoth friends.

Book Review: The Last Ritual - S A Sidor

Author: S. A. Sidor

Book: Last Ritual
Year: 2020
Pages: 352
Part of Series: Arkham Horror
Reading Time: 20 February to 27 February 2021
Rating: 3

This was a disappointing.

I can't really phantom giving the novel 5 stars because this has little to no horror. It's a story about a guy going around and not doing anything at all. The main character is a bit flash out but most other characters are not. I had to stop and read other novels in-between because it was boring.

So supposedly something happening prior in Spain that was otherworldly and upsets him. He returns to Arkham and the things that happen in Spain are connected to the ones happening in Arkham but who is to blame or is behind.

There are interesting characters like our main protagonist woman friend who is a investigador - not a real one from the game - although that is the point I will take from this.

There are some characters from the boardgame - like Calvin whereas in the game he is black and not white like in the game. If whitewashing was a very bad thing to do, what can I say about POC washing? To each it's own. I don't fvking care the colour of a skin unless it's relevant for the story.

The ending, so, spoilers, they went through a gate to somewhere?

Where N'Kai was more action, this is more investigation focus. I don't usually love action over investigation and slow pace BUT in this case it didn't work for me.

I've bought the third one Mask of Silver so let us see.

Book Review: Hot Zone by Steven Konkoly (2017) (October Horror Fest 30/31)

Author: Hot Zone
Book: Steven Konkoly
Year: 2017
Pages: 352
Part of Series: 1 of 3
Genre: Horror, Apocalyptic, Zombies
Reading Time: 19 October to 25 October 2021
Rating: 5 Stars

Why the high rating I cannot understand.

This was read as an audiobook in a couple of sittings. Unfortunately it didn't click to me as much as I hoped. I knew this was the first book and it feels like the first book. It's incomplete and it the story just began.

In this tale we get to know all our characters and the beginning of the "end". It sure looks like the zombie apocalypse or more akin to Hater by David Moody plague is being unleash. Bearing in mind that we are still on our "pandemic" it sure feels like this could have happen -- or not.

I can't understand the high praise to be quite honest since it dragged a lot. It gave too much information for things that had no interested. I don't know but it feels the writers wrote a full length novel probably 600 pages and someone said - okay lets do a trilogy. Write some more fillers and you've got a deal. Alas, this book was born.

Don't take me wrong - it's an interesting START of the apocalypse. Most zombie stuff skip this or give a micro feeling of the stuff. Here we've got visions from people on the ground and what they did before and so on. Maybe this could have been accomplish with flashbacks BUT it's fine. It's not bad. But don't expect the action and fluidity of others. Slow burning... I will hear the 2 and 3. Probably not now but in the next few months

Book Review: This Present Darkness by Frank E Peretti (1986) (October Horror Fest 29/31)

Author: Frank E. Peretti
Book: This Present Darkness
Year: 1986
Pages: 508
Part of Series: 1 of 2

Genre: Thriller, Horror
Reading Time: 13 October to 28 October 2021
Rating: 4 Stars

Here is a novel that I should have enjoyed more than I did.

This novel is 500 pages long where it should be 350 tops.

I will not dwelt much on criticisms a bout the message - angels vs demons (Christianity vs new age spirituality, Islamic faith and well any kind of philosophy without Christ).

A writer can write whatever they want. One thing to me is pandering to some fringe ideology when your novel has nothing to do with (just because you want to tick boxes) another is a writer saying he defends X or Y and writes about it. As a reader I may read it or not. My Choice!

So I will not dwelt much on that but there are some stuff here that I cannot stop feeling. If angels and demons exist then one must think what action they have on society or a person in particular. When I feel hate = is it because some demon of hate is inhabit me? I think not. (The same applies with good stuff). This removes responsibility from human and gives faith is seal another meaning no? After all, if demons and angels control and that's why you do X or Y then anything you decide, can you really say it was you?

Now about the novel, basically a group of people (commanded by demons) want to change a city to be their kingdom but, alas, you've got a priest and a journalist who are trying to thwart their plans. Now you've got 250 to 300 pages of repetitive actions until the final confrontation.

In the end, did the characters grow? I Think not because they were guided by demons and angels...

So, if you are Christian, you may even enjoy the comfort of knowing angels are always there. Anyone else will not enjoy- me thinks. And now I have book two, damnation...

Book Review: White Fire by Brian Keene (2006) (October Horror Fest 28/31)

I would like to address three topics

The first is that I love Brian Keene Labyrinth. I believe it's very interesting one since all stories are connected (sometimes only a glimpse , sometimes are the same characters and so on). So after reading 16 of his novels / novellas (besides Agatha Christie , Dan Abnett and Stephen King and RA Salvatore that's the highest one).

I bought this book this month with the intend of reading in October Horror Fest and I've read in one day - 106 pages in under 80m that's pretty good for me.

I was pondering buying some more of his books (although most of the remaining ones are expensive and now, just because of one thing I am on the fence) - Let me explain...

This is a retelling and expanded version. I cannot tell what is on the first edition of course but one thing I know he added in this version and so let me put it here

"...all the equipment Delaroz used to record his Alt-Right podcast. A Replica Nazi Swastika banner with a leering frog emblazoned upon it, which had hung from a the garage wall..."

This part here was added. How do I know? Well, first of alt-right is something new that didn't exist back in 2006 and the frog on swastika is far-left democrats assholes who made the frog a alt-right symbol. NOBODY HAS A NAZI SWASTIKA WITH A FROG! That's absurd. BUT, alas people think there is - so there must be. BUT the frog was considered a alt-right thing (LOL) only a couple of years ago not in 2006. Strange this character wasn't doing the OK sign!

Why did Brian Keene had to do this? WHY had he to include this image here? Was it to appease his far-left fan base (Which probably there aren't)? Was it like some wet dream seeing the "alt-right" suffering? Absurd

What more did you change? Did you change McCleod sex orientation as well making him gay to cross all dots of your agenda? Enfin...

I have nothing against McLeod being gay - he was probably in the beginning my favorite of the duo.

Oh well, apart from this rant that will keep me from buying more of his books because I 'm afraid he drops his political agenda like this - since it has no purpose at all. That depiction was one chapter where he was telling what a tornado did. It served no purpose but it made bluntly real that it was added in 2019 - probably in one of his fits against Trump and the frog.

What about the story you ask?

It's very short. Two guys are transporting some dicease through a place when a tornado hits releasing the virus. Then you've got the army and cdc response against the virus. The last 20 pages or so, it's where we connect the dots with his Labyrinth Mythos plus the "Purple Gas" incident which made me wonder what book was that. I remember Darkness on the Edge of Town but that a darkness that fallen not purple. I have Ghoul, Dark Hollow and Ghost Walk with me to read but I don't think any of them deal with it.

So we come to the end of the story. I will not spoil the ending BUT it was cool.

I hope this story was a bit bigger and dwelt more on - well everything. IT was rushed - OKAY VIRUS IS OUT - OKAY IS CONTAIN - ANCIENT MYTHICAL STUFF HERE - OKAY IS FINISH - OKAY the end...

About the writing and critics on the missing dots - it's true. There are a couple of instances where dots are missing and some words don't feel correct but I am not english native so probably not the best person to talk.

There are couple books I would love to read because I know they dwell more on the Mythos like the Complex, The Lost Level but I don't want to spend 20€ on a book which besides trying to tell a story is trying to insult our intelligence. All writers give their personal beliefs when telling tales and to me that's good and of course interesting- another is insulting a group of people or doing to just pandering and not be cancelled...

ANIME: FALL 2021 (WHAT AM I WATCHING?)

I am not doing this kind of stuff for some time so here we go...

There are some interesting animes this summer and I will be watching quite a few... So, let us see,

First of all the sequels:

Mushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu Part 2

Having enjoy this year the first season I had to try this one. Very different isekai to be honest. More epic fantasy than comic tipic fantasy tropes that fill the isekai genre.

The second I am going to watch is another sequel called 86 Part 2. The war is over so what now?

Lupin III: Part 6 - Why not?

Kimetsu no Yaiba: Mugen Ressha-hen - second season - altholgh this is basically the movie divided in parts I Think. Since i didn't watch the movie to me it's golden. Pretty good anime in terms of fantasy.

Now for new animes in terms of enjoyment

Ousama Ranking - really interesting fantasy stuff. Very good main characters and story. Wit Studio it's one of those companies you know they will not fail.

Sekai Saikou no Ansatsusha, Isekai Kizoku ni Tensei suru - what if you were an assassin and died. Now what? So they give you two options - start over no memories OR start again in another world with all memories but still an assassin. You have to kill the hero of the tale. This very suprising. Sometimes you get an assassin that doesn't behave like one, being a kid with feelings and such. BUT, alas here he is really one.

Mieruko-Chan - What an interesting take. This is a girl who see ghosts BUT don't want so she tries to ignore them because giving in means something bad - or does it? The episode four had one heck of a twist. By the way - it's slice of life a bit of comedy and horror.

My Senpai is annoying - cool slice of life mix with comedy in a workplace. Some hints of romance Has the same vibes of Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii

Showtime!: Uta no Oneesan datte Shitai - the season not hentai erotica anime. Why is this kind of animes not hentai? They have sex in every episode. The only difference is maybe the graphic and timelenght. - Either way it's good.

 

Blue Period is an interesting slice of life about a young teen trying to decide what's best for his life - in this regard studying within art. Some romance and such but very good.

Muv-Luv Alternative - I am watching because I've watch the previous instalments but to be honest it doesn't feel right. I am undecided to drop it.

Shuumatsu no Harem - Well the world went kaput and all men died except you. So your punish for that is screw who do you want! How is this not hentai?

Still undecided

Shin no Nakama ja Nai to Yuusha no Party wo Oidasareta node, Henkyou de Slow Life suru Koto ni Shimashita

Shinka no Mi: Shiranai Uchi ni Kachigumi Jinsei

I still have to try

Heike Monogatari

Sakugan

Everything else I try and drop it OR at most I will maybe try if I see they are worthy but the first three epis didn't motivated me.

Movie Review: Hostel III (2011) (October Horror Fest 27/31)

 I did watch Hostel 1 and Hostel 2. This was is not good. You are leaving Czech republic and entering las Vegas - after all, which city in USSA is more focus on gambling, prostitution, debauchery and so on? A city of sin if there is one - I am not talking about killing or so but it's the definition of sin.

So have you ever watch that comedy movie where a group of friends go to party, get so drunk and miss one of them ? Well this is it. But the guy really suffered to extreme and it's not comedy. Unless you say comedy is tilting your head right to left saying... not this, this is repeat... honestly? and so on...

So the elite group is hunting and they hunt one of the friends, then the remaining try to find him but are capture. PLOST TWIST one of the guys is part of the elite group and is doing everything to kill his best friend because he is marrying his sweetheart - or piece of ass as he calls her.

Alas, another plot TWIST! he survives and arrives at home where the guy is comforting his bride and he is a sadistic himself! BAM!

Movie Review: All Light will End (2018) (October Horror Fest 26/31)

What a pointless movie.

You've got this girl who has night terrors and it's spook by everything.

20 Years Later this same girl publishes a book and becomes a hit but still she's got terrors and so she taking some weird pills. Well, then she and her boyfriend return to her house where her mother died - and she doesn't know how. Weird nightmares all around -what's real? what's not?

Well, killing start and voila, that thing you expected - yes. She killed her own mother, stole the book she had written about her daughter night terrors (she was giving her nightmares) and alas...killed a bunch of people.

Not good acting as well, her boyfriend and the guy trying to score with her are boring... the brother? Bleargh... 

I've seen this over and over and over after watching a thousand movies or more...

PS: Yeah quite literal since 2015 they were 920 - Mostly Horror.

Movie Review: Mirrors - 2008 (October Horror Fest 25/31)

 Mirrors was a good find. I was trying to find some more movies horrors and netflix suggested this one. Although it's old (2008) I had watch it or heard about it. 

Basicaly there is this policeman who is trying to overcome is internal problems (and work) and was sacked from the police. He then tries to work as a security guard but the place he is protecting is abandoned and the shadows really are long. 

The last watchman died in very particular instance and he, being a policemen at core tries to investigate it. He soons finds that not everything is natural and there are some supernatural elements.  First is just small stuff then starts to really have impact. He stars scaring his son and daughter plus his wife - beautiful Paula Patton. They were on a brink of being separated so  this didn't help.

Most of the novel we learn about the things in the mirrors and how they influence and kill everyone. Unfortunately some people starts dying, including his sister. 

The remaining movie goes in a blast while the watchman starts to find more about the mirrors and why they have daemons inside them. It all connects with some weird experiments to cure some mental diseases...

The ending is satisfying to be honest.

Book Review: Superman Red Son (October Horror Fest 24/31)

This is a horror story - no matter what anybody things of it.

First you've got a soviet superman who for the greater good kill and oppress people.

Then you've got Diana who is a lesbian and hates men - she doesn't even try to justify or say it's only a part - it's every male. Hateful speech right there.

Then you've got Batman who he a very cool kind of guy and tries to imprison superman while killing everyone else (mainly communists).

You've got Lois Lane who, in her 20 or so lines, most of them are of an entitled woman who says she is with the man because she wants and because he supports career. She says don't want to have kids because, well.. work. She is very independent! and Woman! Don't know how she is not so full woman she is a lesbian like Diana.

This is an horrific take on how you can destroy a legacy of 60 or so years because your politics. Go search Lois and Clark the tv show from the 90's. You've got Lois Lane a really independent woman and she is not entitled - SHE DOES HER WORK and that gives her admiration. Here you've got nada. You've a woman who is entitled because she is a woman.

No matter how you see it, this is a horror story. It's a horrible tale and demonstrates the downfall of comics. That's why comics are being substituted by manga. in stores. Manga don't try to teach you "the correct way" of thinking. Manga doesn't try to change you. Can't these fuckers understand that by giving in to the woke fringe ideology they are falling? Now superman is bisexual and his cry call is no longer the American way. 

Before coming here commenting - I have a wife, she is a blind woman. Yet still she works 8h in the office a day plus 20h per week doing other stuff (which I am not going to share). Yet she is never once said I am entitled to X or Y because I am woman or blind. She works harder than other people to have recognizing by her peers. REading on this movies and novels entitled people just because they exist or because they are gay or lesbian is absurd and truly inhumane. These people probably never had a bad day in life. So what you were called a faggott? Does that name calling diminish you? Then you should work harder to have your self-esteem up. Fuck off. You are not entitled to anything unless you work hard... Nobody should be.

Hollywood elite who are rich beyond belief sure loves communism - that ideology that hates rich people? How crazy are these guys?

Book Review: Anathemas - Anthology (October Horror Fest 23/31)

Author: Anthology

Book: Anathemas

Year: 2020

Pages: 351

Part of Series: Warhammer Horror

Reading Time: 10/10/2021 to 15/10/2021 (5 days)

Rating: 7 Stars

It's almost poetic that my 1000th book read (accordingly to goodreads) it had to be a horror Black Library novel.

For people who like info dump - here is something for you:

In terms of Genres I've read 374 (Sci-Fi); 233 (Horror) and 232 (Fantasy)

In terms of Black Library I've read 231 novels. So it's interesting that the 1000th book it's Sci-Fi and Fantasy at the same time (40K and Sigmar) plus they are horror stories.

Are these horror stories? Not all of them. Some are dark but most are not horror.

Hab Fever Lockdown by Justin D. Hill - 40K story - e first tale is told in second perspective . Horrific. Why? I really dislike that kind of narration unless you are you playing a game OR that choose your own adventure. The story it's about Australian lockdown measures due to some covid cases... what? No? It's about a plague being release on a hive? Ah okay, it sure like it was in Australia draconian laws..."

Suffer the Vision by Jake Ozga - where is the horror? They should invite horror writers to write horro tales.

A Threnody for Kolchev by Darius Hinks - t's again, not an horror story , unless you just find out that there cities and surrounding areas in Terra. I thought it was just a planet-city (with some very big palaces). I believe I've read this somewhere else... Go there!

These Hands, These Wings by Lora Gray he next tale s is a interesting horror tale to tell by the fireplace- BUH! Finally a horror tale

Vox Daemonicus by James Forster - have you ever wanted to learn how Night Lords recruited more space marines? Yes? Then go here.

Skin Man by Tim Waggoner - Interesting story about revenge & retribution. Very cool but not that horrific - althought the depictions of the Skin Man were unsettling- but if you want more horrible depictions go Tim C
urran.

A Deep and Steady Tread by David Annandale

The Thing in the Woods by Paul Kearney -This tale could easily, after changing some words, set in Sigmar World. But alas it's 40K. I must say it took me a while to understand that.

Mud and Mist by John Goodrich - The horrible tales of imperial guard guarding against tyranids. You've got yourself the commisar and the character level insanity and how far are you able to go to survive - temporarly? You want to learn that? Go here.

The Shadow Crown by CL Werner - I love CL Werner. But this tale didn't connect with me. Either because I don't know much about Sigmar World. I've added info in the book. I will return to it later on.

Runner by Alan Bao - Run Forest Run!. That's it. Imagine that you have to run 200 kilometres to warn another place of incoming miasma and plague... Now imagine your mind wondering of all the running and such. If you have ever wanted to make a really hazardous marathon times 5 - Oh you will be alone or ... Go here

Miracles by Nicholas Wolf - Have you ever wonder what would happen if you get mad, hallucinating and thinking you are seeing angels? Oh you've heard angels? Then go here.

Voices in the Glass by Richard Strachan - Have you ever gone to the Shadespire? No? Go there. (one of the weakest tales) I will be honest saying that I don't know much about this setting.

The Funeral by Darius Hinks - Ah very cool. Imagine you being so sure of yourself, so sure you are doing the right thing without any kind of repercussions . Now imagine that person you wrong - returns! Go there.

Overall, I would say that this is a good anthology of some sweet stories. BUT to be quite honest not all of them are horror.AT ALL.

The problem with horror is that it mixes with grimdark feeling of the 40K universe. So just by reading some passages - which I find truly horrific BUT they are not horror, disturbing, violent, psychological... Enfin, overall a good compilation. Some are good, some are not. To me, as previous said, the Sigmar tales are the ones I am not realy enjoying. Warhammer Fantasy was a very good place to tell dark gothic horror tales - Sigmar world is not. Sigmar are more focus on action, less on characters and ambience. I don't know much about it. Maybe I will enjoy it after reading some novels...

Movie Review: Don't Speak 2 (2021) (October Horror Fest 22/31)

This was the second movie in the series. Again we have the same main character - The Blind Man but different cast. If you remember the first one, the blind man was living alone and his house was attacked. But not all things are what they seem and the attackers become the attacked (is this a word?). 

This is how a blind man would fight and so on. With the series "See" we get some unrealistic blind people. Here is more real.

In this movie, he is living in another house and with a girl. He is training her and learn more about their life. She hates living so out there with no-one and he wants to protect her so he tries to isolate her - she doesn't understand that.

At half the movie a group of guys appear and start attacking his house. Great fight scenes and the group kidnaps her but the Blind Man is not defeated. He then thakes the fight to them.

We are then explain WHY he kidnaped her and who are her parents. The ending was quite emotional, because knowing the Blind Man is not "good" guy we still root for him. But unfortunately he  is killed.... or not. It will depend on the sales :D

Book Review: Nightfall - Daniel Barnett (Nightmareland 1) (October Horror Fest 22/31)

Author: Nightfall 
Book: Daniel Barnett
Year: 2020
Pages: 140
Part of Series: Nightmareland Chronicles #1 (of 12)
Reading Time: 18/10/2021 to 20/10/2021 (3 days)
Rating: 8 Stars

Well, it was a very odd novel. Pretty short with only 140 pages but fast paced. I've read it within 3 days - although I was reading other novel in-between.

So, what this is about? Well, first of all, this is the first novel in a 12 book series , and even the author says in the afterword, don't expect explanations and the whys in the first novel. This is something that will appear in due time - one thing that worries me is that the author is getting behind his schedule. When this book was out he said that he had written 5 novels. It's not 1 year and half later and still nothing was release apart from book 5. So, what is happening?  Or is he going to publish another 2 or 3 in one go? Who knows...

I would understand the thing of publish a novella length novel every 3 months or so BUT I can't understand the logic in terms of money to publish 5 in quick fashion and then nothing for a year... Nothing against authors taking their time - I wish he publish so I could read a novella 3 months. I don't like waiting a year for a novel. That's why I never read series that are not finish.

So, what's this book about? Well it's the setting stone for us to meet John Hawthorne. A 50/60's year old violent guy who is trying to live is life (almost in penitence) until this all the Sun Vanished situation. We also get more about Mariah a bartender and love(ish) partner of John.

This novel was indeed the setting and introducing the characters. Nothing else. We get a bit about the lives of people in this land without the sun. Nothing is explain. But it seems people are getting a bit.. crazy?

I will try reading the next 4 novellas in the next few months..

PS: Forgot to mention that this story first brought to my attention due to the vanishing sun... have you ever heard or follow the ARG Vanish Sun? It's very cool ARG. One of the first that brought me into this new world...

Book Review: Black Helicopters - Caitlin R. Kiernan (October Horror Fest 21/31)

Well, what we have here it's the second novel in the Tinfoil series.

I've read the first a couple of months ago and I didn't enjoy it. But I know Caitlin is well received as a Lovecraftian horror master but alas, I just couldn't get into it. The book is 200 pages long and it's boring and pointless. First of all, I may be at fault here. Maybe I am not erudite to fully understand the novel but I couldn't. Of course I understood the plot - overall it follows the first but I guess you can read it without having read the first - although it makes zero sense to start at book 2 of a series.

So what is the story and why I didn't enjoy it. - first of all the constant changing of timelines every chapter. This confuse me. Then you've got the plot itself and I couldn't understand anything. You've got spies in Dublin, you've got ships, you've got the black and white queen stuff, you've got the future where the writing was even more incomprehensible  (probably just saying that writing from the 1800 it's different from nowadays so probably the future will sound/read differently.

Bear in mind that by the descriptions I hope something more akin Lovecraftian but what I got was some weird stuff- probably Weird Fiction is all about? I didn't felt any kind of horror or fear - nada that I could say it's Lovecraftian. To mention Shoggoths and labelling as Lovecraftian it's like saying that anything has four tires it's a care. It doesn't work like that. It could be a wagon or anything in-between. The only connection is that a car and a wagon has four tires...

Then why the chapter with people speak in French? Damn... Those non-translated sentences... I thought okay they are talking in French and in-between someone will explain what it means... Well, nope.
Sucks to be you - who don't know French haha... 

Overall I will read the third one but coming from the 1 and 2 maybe i will be disappointed... I hope not.

Movie Review: Halloween Kills 2001 (October Horror Fest 20/31)

This is the second movie in the trilogy. I've seen some comments that this movie sucked and steer away fromt he first and so on... well I don't agree at all.

This movies follows the first one, as you are probably aware Myers were basically defeated by the trio of woman (grandmother, mother and daughter)... But this fucking Myers! He does not die. And we start one of the most bloodiest movies on the Halloween franchise to this day.

Having seen all Myers movies we get several stuff form it... First of all he was first just a mutant kind of guy who killed people but was "human". Then there were other movies that made me almost supernatural being.

Bear in mind that are four timelines this franchise really goes far in terms of scope and Myers is what you want him to be -and that's something Friday the 13th or nightmare on elm street didn't really got to do it.

This one we get him a bit supernatural and the police officer arrived to the conclusion that Mers just want to go home and will kill anyone who steps in his way.

Again , maybe the reasons to kill for Myers also changed. this movie they tried to get all the previous survivors and giving them a stage for the big finale (well for now since there were at least 2 endings already) Not as good as the first but not the worst. 7 out of 10

Book Review: Autumn - David Moody (October Horror Fest 19/31)

Author: David Moody
Book: Autumn
Year: 2001
Pages: 284
Part of Series: 1st of  6 books on the Autumn series
Reading Time: 8/10/2021 to 9/10/2021 (2 days)
Rating: 8 Stars

This was my second reading of this novel. I've read this novel when it was released online back in 2002. I was not working so i had no money. I didn't even read in English that much. I have no doubt that this was one of the 10 first books I read in english so there is a connection.

First of all let me say that this novel was written in 2001. If you know anything about zombie books I will say upfront that this was one of the first authors to write zombie stories. That's how important this is.

Is this the best book in zombie fiction? Nope. But you cannot deny the importance. It gave rise to a bunch of author horror writers write zombies. To put in perspective World War Z (2006), Mira Grant Newflesh (2010), Carry Ryan The forest of hands and teeth (2009); Walking dead (2004), Stephen King's Cell (2006); Joe Mckinney (2006) or Brian Keen (2007). BTW I am not saying that there aren't zombie books before - Resident Evil is one example, Lovecraft probably the first with Reanimator. But in terms of literature as zombies as plagues in book fiction this is it.

So credit should be given when credit is deserved - yeah!

Some spoilers, well full spoilers to be quite honest....

In this tale we follow three people Carl, Michael & Emma. In one instance 99% of the population of earth died. Survivors started to come together (where these 3 meet) and initial they are just buckle up waiting for rescue. Then some of the dead, started to rise (after some days). Those three characters start wondering that this was not a safe place and wanted to go to another place. They arrive at a empty farm where they amass food and other supplies and try to cope with everything. This is where the psychological part takes place and we see Carl falling deep and deeper in depression because he had lost his wife and child. As time progress the dead are changing, they seem now to follow some patterns, joining in bands and so on - still not attacking. Carl, starts pondering that maybe they should not be there and he goes back to where all it started where he finds everyone dead. He comes back but it seems the noise is drawing the dead - after all, with all silence a small noise echoed throughout the night. The dead are now thousands surrounding the house. Carl is almost delusional, without purpose to live, only to get revenge and die whilst the other characters want to live. Carl do something stupid like opening a door and its engulf by the dead but that gave possibility for Emma & Michael to escape and thus our story ends...

What is interesting about this?

Well, it's simple, it focus on characters psychological effects - most zombie fiction don't dwell more on the psychological effect of seeing everyone you love dead. This one really focus on that. It focus less on survival skills.

The writing is nothing to brag about - it is fast pace - I read 160 pages in 1h (which is awesome to me) and I notice some repetitions reading - It seems in Britain everyone says "Bloody Hell". It's your favourite swear expression?

Asking, is there a finish line ? Well yes and no. Its open ended but you can read and never read the second - I read this in 2001 and never read the second and still remember fondly of it.

Don't expect this to be like Brian Keene or some zombie movie. It's not. There is none or almost none zombie killing (by both parts). it's slow but good. Solid 4 stars. I cannot give a full 5 stars because , the writing is not the best there is, the characters sometimes behave some very "WTF" moments - like doing something that was not supposed to be that character that should be saying that (I notice this in the beginning when we've got 10 characters). Other thing was the action scenes which were confusing. Hey it was his first book. I will read the next 2 ( I can't seem to get the human condition which is 20€ plus - used)

Movie Review: The Crucifixion - 2017 - October Horror Fest (18/31)

Well here is an interesting movie about demons and exorcisms. You've got this priest who was convicted of killing some girl. A Newporter from the USA wants to investigate the issue and goes to Romania. There she tries to uncover what the meaning of all. If the priest is to blame, if it's something to do with church and other factors.

The meaning for this is that she has lost her mother several years before, and when she dying, the reporter found out a treatment that would have a great percentage of possibilities of surviving but her mother said that she was in gods hands and didn't make the treatment and dies.

Now she hates the church and all that entails. 

As the story progress we get to know more and more characters and that not everything is telling all that they know and not everything is at it seems.

This tale could be less supernatural and more human relations -church and the modernization of church (how they see exorcisms) but then it change and become more and more supernatural.

I enjoy the tale, mainly the development of the main character. Nice story that didn't try to shame or dump on the church. It tried to understand the church position.

Reading Challenge October Horror Fest (Half Month)

So, we've now arrive at half the month so how I going?

Well, I finish the following:

- Edward Lee - Trolley No 1852 (102) (3.88 rating)
- David Moody - Autumn (271) (3.66 rating)
- 40K & Sigmar Anthology - Anathemas (345) (3.61 rating)
- The Devourer Below 316 
- Alien: Sea of Sorrows 352
- Alien: River of Pain 352

(Total pages read so far 1738 - WHICH IS AWESOME!)

I am now reading the following:

- Caitlin R. Kiernan - Black Helicopters (202) (3.45 rating)
- Frank Peretti - This Present Darkness (508) (4.22 rating)

The following are to be read:

- Bentley Little - Summoning (542) (3.71  rating)
- Christine Morgan - The Night Silver River Run Red (212) (4.09 rating)
- Daniel Barnett - Nightfall - Nightmareland Volume 1 (141) (4.31 rating)

So with 1605 pages to go, that's around 100 pages per day - LET's GO!

Btw, the next month I will try reading more sci-fi novels. I've already chosen the following:

- Speaker For the Dead - Orson Scott Card - 378 Pages
- Alien Game - Rod Walker - 209 Pages 
- The Lost Fleet: Victorious - Jack Campbell - 330 Pages
- Artemis - Andy Weir - 302 Pages
- Blindsight - Peter Watts - 361 Pages
- Echopraxia - Peter Watts - 389 Pages
- Superluminary - John C Wright 472 Pages (3 novels - The Lords of Creations, The Space Vampires, The World Armada)
Total Pages 2441 
If I can I will add a 40K novel.

Movie Review: Like Dogs (2021) (October Horror Fest 17/31)

 Finally a good movie.

This story is set on an USA where you can make human experiments (Well you can do it today) but life-threathening psychological experiments. 

We start this movie with a woman being kidnapped and put on a penhold (for dogs) where she has little sapce to move and must eat, drink, poop and so on as a dog. Basically she is being trained to be a human-dog.

The first 20 minutes or so it's this girl being well treated like that (probably how you treat a dog). After a while this guy appears in another pen like the one she is and they start talking and conspiring in escaping. After a while he tries to escape but she intervenes and he is knock out.  We then see the first twist - she is the designer of the place and she wants to make broke him. She is being helped by a man and a woman scientists.

After a while they return her to the pens and she twists his mind so he thinks that everything was a hallucination. Another situation of escaping prompts the higher ups to close the project since they discovered that the guy was not a volunteer and had been taking drugs (given by the scientist).

She doesn't want her experiment to end and so knocks out the lead scientist and convinces the two colleagues to continue. BUT nothing else really work that way and a new twist comes out. It seems the male scientist is conducting his own experiences with all the guys that he think have wrong her. He also loves her and his twisting her to accepting his "love" obsession.

The ending we get yet another twist making this an interesting fast pace movie. 8 stars.

Btw, the main character has such a beautiful smile...

Book Review: The Devourer Below - Arkham Horror Anthology (October Horror Fest 16/31)

Author: Anthology (7 Authors)
Book: The Devourer Below
Year: 2021
Pages: 320
Part of Series: Arkham Horror Novels
Reading Time: 3/10/2021 to 6/10/2021 (4 days)
Rating: 5 Stars
 

Stories Within -

Running the Night whiskey -  Evan Dicken 

Shadows dawning - Georgina Kamsika

The Hounds Below - Josh Reynolds

Labyrinth - Thomas Parrot

All My Friends Are Monsters - Davide Mana

The Darkling Woods - Cath Lauria

Professor Warren’s Investiture - David Annandale

Sins in the Blood - Thomas Parrot

This was the first anthology in Arkham Horror series published by Aconyte

On contrary of most people here I didn't receive this book for free. I have to purchase them so my review will be , as always true... well to myself at least.

What can I say? This is a collection of short stories most of them interconnected by two things - one some characters do jump around from one tale to another and the monster of the week is Umôrdhoth and all stories are connected to him our his cultists.

To be quite honest there isn't a single story I should say it's brilliant. To be quite honest they all seem bland with except of Thomas Parrot duology (there are two linked stories). The last story joins most characters from other stories and finish (some kind of finish - status quo must be maintain as you are writing in a share universe).

Well, all of these stories had some characters that we can play as investigators and others as carts. They all have somekind of background and the writers, I believe, are free to conjure the rest and give adventures BUT maintainingthe status quo. So, an investigator cannot be killed or become crazy and so. When you make a character like that your main character as a reader you know nothing bad will happen and thus the tale looses a bit of magic. The same happens with the main villain (villains). If you kill them the game ends and Call of Cthulhu never ends.

So, what did I think of the stories...

Some were more revenge, others more investigation kind of stories, one was back in time story , one was a more in a perspective a of a cultist . The last tale is the best one of the bunch.

First of all, these authors know that this tales are set in 1920's? Yeah? Gay Rights were not a priority ye know? But at least two of our characters were gay (lesbian). Why had you the need to add lesbian characters in tales they have no meaning whatsoever?

Besides the lesbians in two stories, no other characters (I would say non-gay) mentioned their loved ones OR even their sexuality. But Lesbians? The authors had to say several times about them. You know what this means correct? Pandering. It's like now they can go on twitter and say - hey my story had a lesbian couple. Next one will have a POC and I will feel all the boxes and you shouldn't cancel me, right?

That's it.

That part was un-necessary, unrealistic (yeah people didn't care about gay people back in 1920's. If these authors thinking they are the fringe because they are advocating the rights of LGBT - I mean LGBT is everywhere nowadays, everyone defends their rights and revindication. You are not the fringe by writing stories of gays and lesbians - you are the norm. You are the estabelishment.

But overall they are just okish stories. Nothing to praise a lot but reading about the characters you usually play it was good.