Rain by Craig Saunders Part 1

First, I am only half way through this novel.  Normally, I wouldn't consider adding a half-assed review for something I have not finished yet, but Craig Saunders is a new author, Rain is his debut novel, and quite frankly, it impresses the hell out of me.

When men were men and vampires were monsters...

Salem's Lot...  Probably, in my humble opinion, the best vampire movie ever.  Hooper's adaption of King's classic novel varies somewhat from the book, but unlike a lot of King's work converted into film, Hooper manages to pull it off.  For instance, Kurt Barlow in the book came off as an average looking guy, non-menacing until you delved deeper into the story.  In the movie (the original, not the made-for-TV-remake with Rob Lowe and Rutger Hauer--which is yet another good flick) Barlow was downright monstrous as evidenced on the image above.  I still remember the sleepless nights 'The Master' caused me when I was a child.  I'm guessing Hooper was inspired by Orlock when he created his version of Kurt Barlow.

AT THE END OF ALL THINGS on sale now!

At the End of All Things on sale now!

Blood Bound Books has informed me that At the End of All Things is available for purchase just in time for Christmas!  What better gift than fiction about wholesale slaughter, deviant sex, demons, and zombies?!

http://www.amazon.com/End-All-Things-Stony-Graves/dp/0984540881/ref=sr_1_15?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323391270&sr=1-15


 “Stony Graves has created an apocalyptic masterpiece, breathing life into
characters and horrors on par with King’s The Stand.” - Charolette Nevers,
author of The Craving

When asked what At the End of All Things is about, I like to answer with: A sweet horror story about zombies, demons, prison rape, and puppies.

A better description is:

A plague of the undead have risen to make way for the Apocalypse, the
horsemen are drawing nearer, and those left behind after the rapture are
struggling to find their place in this new and savage world.
The survivors, relying on dreams, intuition and in some cases, even the
dead, find themselves being drawn to Blue Church, Ohio, where no doubt,
something monumental is about to happen. At the end of all things, will
God forsake humanity, can evil triumph, and will anyone even be left alive
to tell the tale.

Books Read 2011

The number of books I've read this year is drastically down from the 100 (give or take) from last year.  In 2011, I managed only 52 titles so far.  With two months left, I expect to add another 6 or 7 to the list.

2011 was different because I don't think I've ever read as many thousand pagers has I have this year.  The entire 5 books of The Song of Ice and Fire series, The Passage, Swan Song, and I reread The Stand and It--third time each.

DISPATCH by Bentley Little

This book felt a lot like Little's 'The Ignored', mostly by the narrative, I think, but overall a more satisfying read, IMO.  'Dispatch' follows Little's normal tendency of real world, mundane things going wildly, vividly, fantastically, and horrifically out of control.  This is what places Little firmly near the head of the class when it comes to good, fun, deviant horror.
Few writers can go from a typical, normal moment to jaw-dropping, shiver inducing anxiety quicker.

4 out of 5 gravestones!

MIDNIGHT MASS by F. Paul Wilson

** spoiler alert ** Overall, I liked. I went in expecting something akin to Stephen King's "Salem's Lot"--Which this is NOT--and ended up with a suped up urban fantasy instead. Wilson's vampires were clearly evil (a gigantic plus), but I didn't care for their bickering among themselves and their too-organized militaristic approach.

The Passage by Justin Cronin

Cronin is a very, very good writer and The Passage is a very good book.

A few flaws: first, The Passage is the first part of a series, something I would have liked to know beforehand.

Second; dead is not dead in this book. Far too many times characters are believed dead but miraculously show back up alive and well.

Third: Way too slow and plodding in the middle. Cronin almost lost me after part 1 ended and I was assaulted with a dozen pages of italics from a character 100 years in the future, presented by someone 1000 years into the future. Confusing.

Other than that, I loved this book. Treat yourself to a smart, atmospheric, apocalyptic vampire tale that is penned by a true wordsmith.