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The Monster Librarian Presents:

Reviews of Something Different aka Unique Horror Related Fiction

Horror related books that don’t quite fit into any other category.

 

Big Machine by Victor LaValle*New Review

Spiegel and Grau, 2009

ISBN: 978-0385527989

Available: New

    Let me preface this review by stating that I was unable to finish Big Machine. To be perfectly honest, my heart just wasn’t in it. I have subsequently read posted reviews for this novel by such vaunted purveyors of literature as The Washington Post and Publisher’s Weekly and have been left wondering if perhaps my problems with Big Machine were my own. Reviews have lauded this novel and its author as brilliant and game changing, a tour de force that avoids the clichés of urban fantasy and paranormal literature to deliver a masterpiece of modern horror. For me, the work was tedious and pretentious. The story of a janitor and former junkie, not to mention the survivor of a Branch Davidian-inspired cult, called to duty by way of a mysterious letter to serve a secret society dedicated to investigating the supernatural. Sounds right up my alley, right? Instead, what I found was a convoluted narrative and a meandering attempt at weaving an epic mirrored on works such as Swan Song or The Stand. Both race and religion are played out with heavy-handed mission to invoke reader response, and both of these attempts failed for me by the feeling that I was not a part of the story, but rather was, in a sense, being preached to. Big Machine just might be everything that other reviewers have heralded it to be, but it left me bored and unfulfilled and thus I set it aside and reread American Gods by Neil Gaiman instead. Now there’s an epic tale of race and religion that I could sink my teeth into.

Review by Bob Freeman

 

 

Experiments at 3 Billion A.M. by Alexander Zelenyj*New Review

Eibonvale Press, 2009

ISBN: 978-0-9555268-5-5

Available: New

    At first glance, the cover of Experiments at 3 Billion A.M. comes across as a science fiction story collection. For the most part it isn’t.  Instead it is a bizarre, surreal collection of forty short stories. Each story has its own illustration by David Rix. Mr. Zelenyj has an eloquent style of writing that gives each story a unique dark flavor and his vivid imagination bring the characters to life for the reader and takes them places they would never expect to go. Some of the stories pull on the heartstrings as they bring the reader close to the characters, but each story has its own dark place - some with brutal toothy malevolence while others are shadows full of emotional pain. The only complaint that the reader may have is that the eloquent wording at times slows some of the stories down. Experiments at 3 Billion A.M. is recommended for libraries looking for a story collection that is unique, dark and at times surreal.

Contains: Violence, Sex, Rape, Bestiality

Review by Bret Jordan

 

 

The Shimmer by David Morrell

Vanguard Press, 2009
ISBN: 9781593155377

Available: Pre-Order (July)

    Bestselling author David Morrell is most well known for his debut and often misunderstood novel First Blood. Over the years he has written in a variety of genres, including action thrillers (Testament), horror (The Totem) and spy novels (Brotherhood of the Rose) to name a few. His latest novel combines elements of many genres that Morrell has touched on in the past. The Shimmer starts as a dark mystery that reminded me early on of Morrell’s early horror novel The Totem, but the tone changes many times as the pages fly by. At times the book has an action feel, and at times it feels like a mystery or a techno thriller. In the end it is seamlessly blended into an eerie science fiction adventure novel.

    The story is about Dan Page, a Santa Fe police officer and pilot whose wife disappears. When he follows her trail, he ends up in the town of Rostov, Texas. Rostov is home to an odd tourist attraction, a series of lights that behave strangely on the horizon. According to legend they have been seen for hundreds of years. Morrell's settings can be very convincing. His 2004 novel Creepers used known legends as a basis for the storyline. While the military and techno conspiracy seem to be his invention, readers will still find themselves wondering what is real.

    Morrell usually keeps his books fast-paced by writing very short chapters, but in The Shimmer, he seems to be spreading his wings a bit, using a non-linear structure that includes flashbacks and a perfectly timed back story. What is most impressive is that the mystery is not easy to guess and keeps The Shimmer interesting right up till the last time you close the book.

Review by David Agranoff

 

Sloppy Seconds by Wrath James White
Skullvines Press, 2008
Available:New 
ISBN: N/A

This book has to be the most disgusting thing I have ever laid my hands on. I wish I had never agreed to review it, it was that bad. If you want to throw up a little in your mouth, then this book is for you. I had to force myself to get through each and every story. It is definitely not a book for children or anyone under the age of 18. I understand that the whole purpose of the book is to skeeve you out but it was way too much for me to handle. You'll need an iron stomach to be able to press through these pages. You have stories  ranging from morbid obesity to a gigolo crack whore. There is extremely foul language and sexual situations that you don't want to even process and picture in your mind because it will scar you for life!

Review by The Angry Princess

 

 

Garbage Man by Joseph D’Lacey

Bloody Books, 2009

ISBN: 9781905636471

Available: New

    Shreve is a city with a nasty side. Not only do its people have dirty little secrets that they wish to keep, but it sits next to a huge landfill. They try and keep the place from becoming an eyesore, but they can't hide the smell. After a terrible lightning storm passes the landfill is altered. Creatures made of computer parts, discarded containers, decayed food, toys, feces, plastic bags and hospital waste rise from the ground and begin looking for living prey to maintain themselves. They do more than feast on the living. They dismember their prey, salvaging parts to merge with their own twisted bodies, becoming smarter and faster with each new victim. Mason Brand, a famed photographer turned naturalist-recluse, understands these creatures and sympathizes with them. He sees the future rising from the trash and seeks to help it out.

    The idea of 'garbage monsters' sounds preposterous, but Joseph D’Lacey is a master of story telling. He takes an idea that seems unworkable and makes it believable and entertaining. His characters aren't heroes or villains. They are people readers can relate to, sympathize with, and in which they can even recognize little bits of themselves. At times the gore and filth will make the reader cringe, but it doesn’t seem gratuitous or added just for the sake gore alone - it brings the filth home and immerses the reader in it. The story builds in intensity, keeping the reader locked in until its apocalyptic climax. Highly recommended for both public and private libraries and collections.

Contains: Violence, Gore, Sex

Review by Bret Jordan

 

The Severed Nose by Jeff Strand
Morning Star
ISBN:  N/A
Available: New

Strand's latest novella starts off with his main character, Josh White, getting a bit of a shock... he finds a severed nose sitting on a plate on his dining room table.  After contemplating his options, Josh decides on the most logical choice, placing it in a baggie in his freezer to "keep it fresh". (I'm sure that's what any of us would do, right?)  Josh's initial decision is followed by a string of events that forces him to make more quick decisions, sometimes life threatening, and many of which include a couple of thugs working for the guy behind the severed nose.  Is Josh strong enough to take the thugs down and solve the mystery of the severed nose or will he get killed while trying?

It may only be a novella, but there is a lot packed into this "Nose" (pun fully intended).  The Severed Nose is filled with action, torture, and laughs.  Strand has yet to disappoint me with one of his books.  He is the king of comic horror.  I read his books when I want a good gross-out, horror novel, yet I also need a good laugh.  His books are always laugh out loud funny, and this one is no different. Adding this title to a collection will put a smile on the face of many horror fans.  Highly recommended for public libraries.

Contains:  Violence, Torture, Mild Gore

Review By:  Rhonda Wilson

 

 

 

Miranda by John Little

Bad Moon Books, 2008

ISBN: N/A 

Available: New

    Brilliant. Amazing. Astonishing. We bandy these words around a lot when it comes to fiction, but how often are they genuine?  And how often can we use them in regard to the small press? Not very, in my opinion.

    Happily, I can use those terms about John Little's Miranda. I am in awe of this novella. It kicked my ass and left me feeling disoriented and more than a bit lost. It's rare that a piece of fiction can do this to me.

    Miranda has a deceptively simple premise: A man named Michael Johnson begins his consciousness upon his death and lives his life backward from there. So what, huh? Well, read this story and you'll see what I'm talking about.

     Think of it. The implications of living your life backwards. How would you communicate with others? How would you survive? We know that we are heading to our eventual demise, and we hope that it ends in blissful oblivion. Imagine leading your life toward your birth.

     It's no spoiler that Michael Johnson meets a girl and falls in love in the story. It takes its name after her. Consider this as well: A relationship begins and when it's true love, we hope that it endures until we die. But in Miranda, the lovers meet at the end of their relationship and travel toward their initial meeting. And then?

     I have trouble imagining the things I've asked of you, and I've read Miranda.

     The most likely comparison that comes to mind is Daniel Keyes' classic story, Flowers For Algernon. It's similar in that Miranda also tells the story of a man in such extraordinary circumstances that our minds are boggled in trying to put ourselves in the first person narrator's place.

     Between The Memory Tree, Placeholders and now Miranda, John Little has become one of the best writers in the horror genre. Even if the stories really can't be strictly considered horror. They could just as easily be called science fiction and just as calling them horror, it would be belittling to the stories. They literally transcend genre.

     I've done a fair amount of complaining about expensive small press books and their content. Not the illustrations and not the porduction designs, which are merely distractions. I'm talking about the story. Far too often I don't think a particular story is worth the asking price for a limited edition. But John Little is one author that I will gladly pay $40.00 or more for his story. I'll even pay that or perhaps more for one than is less than novel length. Happily though, Miranda will not stretch your budget too badly. The Bad Moon Books trade paperback edition only costs $15.00 and this story is easily worth three times that.

 

This "Halloween Horror Review Project" review is brought to you by:

 

 

 

 

 The Man on the Ceiling by Melanie Tem and Steve Rasnic Tem

Wizards of the Coast Discoveries, March 2008

ISBN: 9780786948581

Available: Pre-order (Spring,2008)

    This is not a typical horror novel. In fact, its connection to horror is a delicate one. This is the semi-memoir of a family, built out of the common background of abuse and the methods they use to deal with their pasts together and individually. Told in a flowing, beautiful style, with nonlinear plots, the story is woven from small moments, small realizations and individual perceptions, into a great whole. The Man on the Ceiling is a  must read for those who have survived any of the many forms of abuse or those who seek to help them. The monsters in this book are not vampires or werewolves or zombies.  These monsters are the ones that abandon, the ones who can't love, the ones who leave their children to lives of hoping in vain that if they just love enough they will be loved back. This book would be a fantastic addition to any library's collection, but whether it should be in the horror section or not is a debatable matter.

Contains:

Review by Michele Lee

 

Note: The review is part of the "Spring into Terror" project, check out other reviews of horror titles available for reading for this Spring at our Spring into Terror project page.

 

The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff*New Review

Hyperion, 2008

ISBN: 1401322255

Available: New

Lauren Groff’s literary debut, The Monsters of Templeton, is ambitious. It’s also almost brilliant. Almost. At its heart, The Monsters of Templeton is a coming of age story, if that’s possible considering the tale’s heroine is 28. With an homage to the work of James Fennimore Cooper throughout, Groff paints a surrealistic landscape of a seemingly idyllic rural New York, but festering underneath are monsters, both literally and figuratively. Groff’s heroine, Willie Upton, is on a journey of rediscovery, as she not only learns about the truth of her own twisted family tree, but about the monsters behind the façade, and her own inner strength. She begins the story as a lost and immature child (at 28 I remind you), but in the end, we see some wonderful character development. The final chapter alone is worth the price of admission for this excellent debut by a new and exciting voice in fiction. Readers advisory note: Fans of literary fiction and mainstream readers may enjoy this title.

Contains: Adult language and themes.

Review by Bob Freeman

Note: The review is part of the "Spring into Terror" project, check out other reviews of horror titles available for reading for this Spring at our Spring into Terror project page.

 

Last Dragon by J.M. McDermott

Wizards of the Coast, 2008

ISBN: 9780786948574

Available: New

            Zhan and her Uncle Seth are searching for her grandfather, who killed his family, including the village shaman, and fled their village. Their search brings them to the city of Proliux, where Seth strays from their mission, falling in love with a gypsy.  When Zhan and Seth finally locate her grandfather, they discover that he is involved in something much larger than murder, which will change the rest of their lives.  Last Dragon is a uniquely written fantasy story, almost dreamlike in its telling. The book is written in first person, and the scenes are short, as are most of the sentences. However, although it is briefly written, the story can be difficult to follow, since it jumps back and forth in time and the different parts of the story do not clearly establish where in time events are taking place. Last Dragon is a very poignant and character driven tale. With action, romance, magic, and horror, this book should appeal to a variety of readers in the horror and fantasy genres. Recommended for both public and private libraries.

Contains: Violence

Review by Bret Jordan

 

 

Storm Dragon by James Wyatt

Wizards of the Coast, 2007

ISBN: 9780786947102

Available: New

    Gaven is troubled by visions of prophecy that have driven him insane. For twenty six years he has sat in a prison cell in the most secure prison in the kingdom, Dreadhold.  Only one man has listened to Gaven’s babbling about the prophecy that haunts him. They escape Dreadhold accompanied by a fierce dragon that wants to become a god, a metal-clad man known as a warforged, a mage, and an elven fighter, and begin pursuing the visions and his destiny. Gaven soon learns that his companions are more interested in his knowledge of the prophecy than his welfare and decides to meet his destiny on his own. Pursued by Sentinel Marshals, as well as his old companions, with no one to turn to, Gaven travels across the land in a mad search for the truth of the visions. Storm Dragon is set in a colorful and well-rounded world where magic is used to control elementals who power air ships and railways, and family names control the outcome of a person’s life. Innovative twists, like the cyborg-like warforged and the tattoos that determined the character’s house and how powerful they were with magic, gave the book an upbeat edge. Storm Dragon falls more in the genre of fantasy than of horror, and is recommended for lovers of fantasy fiction.

 

Contains: Violence

 

 

 

 

Devil's Cape by Rob Rogers  

Wizards of the Coast Discovery, 2008

ISBN: 0786949015

Available: PreOrder

    In a world of superhumans, both heroes and villains, Devil’s Cape is a violent and corrupt city, founded by a pirate, that eats superheroes alive. That doesn't stop Argonaut, Bedlam and (the fourth) Doctor Camelot from coming together to save those they love and forming their plans to stop the evil of the city. In their way is the malicious Cirque d' Obscurité, a troupe of sideshow freaks turned supervillains, Their ruthless assassination of the much beloved superhero team, the Storm Raiders, is the last straw for the quiet budding heroes of Devil's Cape, driving them into action against the modern pirates of New Orleans' sister city. A dark but not overly gory tale, Devil's Cape is an intriguing attempt at bringing superheroes, usually presented in a highly visual medium, alive in the words of prose. Devil’s Cape presents an opportunity to encourage regular readers of comics and graphic novels incentive to check out novels as well. Recommended for public library collections. Contains: comic-book style superhuman violence and “off-screen” violence against humans.

Review by Michele Lee

 

 

 

Frozen Blood by Joel A. Sutherland

Lachesis Publishing, 2008

ISBN: not available

Available: Pre-order 

    Tara, a recovering alcoholic, drives to Canada to help get things in order after her father's death. When she gets to her father's home, in a very well-to-do neighborhood, she must deal with the hatred and animosity of her twin sister and the guilt surrounding the death of her niece. If the funeral arrangements and her sister's hatred were the only things Tara had to face things would be just peachy, but she is also haunted by the image of her dead father, who instructs her and pushes her to do things that she really doesn't care to do. On top of the other catastrophes that are happening in Tara's life at this time, an ice storm traps everyone in the house. It's an ice storm to end all ice storms, and as the end approaches, Tara must face her demons or die trying. Frozen Blood is a well-written story that keeps building and building up until the climactic end. There are no heroes in this book, and really no villains; just a few people trying to get through an unbearable moment in their lives. The horror of this tale also presents itself on many different levels. There is tension between all of the characters throughout the entire story, horrifying ghosts, ghastly deaths, and apocalypses unlike any others I've ever read about. At the halfway point, the story really begins to build momentum and becomes hard to put down. This story is certainly a keeper and I would recommend it to any library, both public and private.  Contains:  Review by Bret Jordan

 

  

 

Sometimes Women Are So Cold by Christopher Fulbright  

Short Scary Tales Publications, 2002

ISBN: 0954252306

Available: New

    In 2246 a plague nearly wiped out all of the men on the planet, making women the dominant gender. Men are treated as possessions to be used and discarded at their wife’s leisure. Drennin is a man who is literally kept by his wife, like an exotic snake in an aquarium; a wife who has grown to hate him almost as much as he has grown to hate her. In total disregard and disrespect for him she has given him over to her sister as a plaything, but he has grown to love the sister and she to love him. It’s this love that helps him formulate a plan of escape, and vengeance against his wife. Sometimes Women Are So Cold is a disturbing look into an unbalanced future where robotic guards lurk around every corner and circumstances create a prison. It is also a twisted story of love and vengeance. The concept behind the book was unusual and the characters were thoroughly believable and well written. Public libraries with horror or science fiction sections would do well to pick this little book up.

Contains: Violence. Review by Bret Jordan

 

 

Smiling Faces Sometimes by Gary A Braunbeck

White Noise Press, 2007

ISBN: N/A

Available: New

    Divorced, unemployed, and maimed in an accident, Alan's life is falling apart. With nowhere else to go, he seeks solace in his childhood tree house, built by schoolyard friends, on a night where something magical happens. Braunbeck’s story is short and bittersweet. He does an excellent job of showing readers the depth of Alan’s pain and despair. White Noise Press once again has produced a beautiful, quality chapbook with a well written story by a popular author, and a gorgeous cover and illustrations. Smiling Faces Sometimes is available only in a limited print run of 150 copies. Highly recommended for large public libraries, if they can acquire it. Contains:  suicide

 

 

 

The Blackest Heart by Vince Churchill
Publish America, 2004
ISBN: 1413712681

Available: New
    Thane Bishop is a retired Marshall, and in his prime he was the fastest gun alive. When Yardon Wrath arrives in town, he brutally kills Bishop, giving his  band of mutant thugs license to enjoy a raping and killing spree. Just when it seems that all hope is lost, an alien entity merges with Bishop, making a deal with the dead man. It will bring him back to life, giving him powers beyond his wildest dreams so that he can have vengeance on Yardon Wrath. The only catch is that he must kill one thousand dark souls to feed the entity's symbiotes before they will leave his body. With hatred and rage in his heart he agrees to the dark deal, and begins his quest to hunt down and destroy Wrath. The Blackest Heart combined elements from several genres to make it a truly unique story. First, of coarse there is the science fiction elements of the story; lasers, spaceships, and alien life forms. Next are the horror aspects of the story; gore, violence, and suspense. Finally, and perhaps the most surprising of all, is the western theme; dusters, space marshals, the fastest gun. The story satisfies because it does more than document the  events of violence, also dealing with how the characters cope with the violence and humiliation they experience at the hands of Yardon Wrath. This adds some interesting depth to the action packed story. A thoroughly enjoyable read. Recommended for public libraries.
Contains: Gore, Violence, Rape, Sex Review by Bret Jordan

 

 

 

End Times by Rio Youers
IUniverse, 2007
ISBN: 0595437869

Available: New
    Scott is a man who has lived a hard, sad life. He suffers from an addiction to heroin. He is missing all of the fingers on both ands and has to make do with only his thumbs, a fact that is disturbingly presented throughout the book. He is working as a journalist with peers who he doesn't really like and who don't like him. The only thing good in his life seems to be his friend Sebby, a quadriplegic that Scott met at a drug rehab program. Mia, a mysterious Indian girl, steps into his life and changes everything. She sees him as he is and still seems to love him. Mia becomes like a drug to his troubled mind, an addiction that he just can't quit thinking about. Everything seems to be going his way until he finds out who Mia is - a dangerous mystery from his past that has come to the present with the purpose of making him pay for what he did to her. The story follows him from his life as a bum, trying to eke out an existence on the hard city streets, to his joining a dangerous and twisted cult that required horrible sacrifices for their god, Voice, and then to his life as a writer and his journey into self-discovery and destiny. The story is written in first person and is filled with pain and longing. At first I couldn't stand the main character, his world and views being a far cry from my own, but as the novel progresses he seems to change, becoming a character that I began to relate to and sympathize with. All of the characters are created with the utmost depth, dark and believable. This book touches on all the emotions. As I read Scott's tale I felt his pain, love, hatred, longing, fear and humor. End Times is a brutally unique work that surely deserves a place in any library, whether public or private.
Contains: Violence, Sex, Self Mutilation

Review by Bret Jordan

(Note: End Times is now in print available at Amazon.com)

 

 

The Last Stand of the Great Texas Packrat by Steve Vernon and Illustrations by Keith Minnion

White Noise Press, February, 2007
Available: New
Steve Vernon pays homage to horror authors and bibliophiles in this tale of Texas Jack Page, a collector of books including horror books. Texas Jack’s obsession with his books, starting from an early age, continues to dominate his life and ultimately leads to some very strange developments. The book is beautifully illustrated, and the illustrations foreshadow the story’s conclusion, but Vernon storytelling doesn’t give up the goods until the end, and when he does, readers will appreciate Minnion’s illustrations, and the chapbook as a whole, even more. The Last Stand of the Great Texas Packrat is perfect for book lovers and collectors, and those who are interested in the horror genre will enjoy seeing favorite authors and titles referenced in the story. If the horror book collector or librarian in your life hasn’t found this book it will make for a great gift. Recommended Contains: nothing objectionable.
 

 

 

Everybody Scream!: A Punktown Novel by Jeffery Thomas

Raw Dog Screaming Press, January, 2005
ISBN: 0974503193

Available: New and Used

Jeffery Thomas sets his story in Punktown, a city of the future, where humans and aliens live together.  The story revolves around Punktown's carnival, run by Sophi Kahn, and backed financially by her husband, a former popular rock star.   With their security man, Mitch Garnet, the Kahns deal  with drug dealers, a pack of killer dogs, and an invasion of extra-dimensional creatures, all on the last day of the carnival.    Thomas introduces a variety of interesting and well- developed characters whose lives collide at the carnival for a night of murder and mayhem.  What makes Everybody Screams! interesting is that the characters fully developed,  with both strengths and moments of weakness    Punktown feels like Frank Miller's Sin City, with a good dose of science fiction thrown in.   The Punktown setting was introduced by Thomas in a collection of short stories titled Punktown.  Recommended acquisition for libraries.  Contains: Violence and sexual passages. 

 

Werewolf Porno/Sex Potion #147 by Jeff Strand and Illustrated by Keith Minnion

White Noise Press, October, 2006

ISBN: N/A

Available: New

Werewolf Porno/Sex Potion #147 is a two story chapbook by Jeff Strand, with the tag line of "Funny Stories of Scary Sex".  I am pleased to say that the book lives up to the tag.  One story is Werewolf Porno, a story about an adult flim producer who meets up with an unemployed werewolf in a bar and wants him to be the star of his next movie.   It is a great story that blends horror, sex, and humor , and any time you have a story where the fluffer steals the scene you know it's worth a look.  The other story is Sex Potion #147.  Strand tells the tale of Melissa, a frustrated single gal seeking help from a gypsy fortune teller.  Melissa is given a test drop of Sex Potion #147 and becomes the object of lust of the men that she meets.  Unfortunately, Melissa attracts the wrong man-- a sexually repressed serial killer.  Then, amazingly enough, hilarity ensues. Strand's stories are a joy to read, and Keith Minnion's illustrations complete a fantastic chap book.   I would recommend Werewolf Porno/Sex Potion #147  to both readers of horror fiction and libraries. While librarians might balk at the titles, the sexual content in the books is actually fairly tame and most libraries probably have other books with more graphic material. Contains: sexual situations, violence, and a little gore.

Keepers by Gary A. Braunbeck

Leisure Books, September 30, 2005

ISBN: 0843955775

Available: New and Used

    Keepers is a little something different. It starts with Gil Stewart as his life and grip on reality spins out of control when he witnesses an old man being chased down into traffic by two dogs.  With his dying words being “The keepers are coming..” the old man throws Gil’s world into a strange world.  It is hard to summarize the book without giving too much away.  The Keepers challenges the reader to keep up with the plot, but rewards at the end. Contains violence.

 

 

 

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