Horror Books

I love this book! As a DJ with 15 years in the business, the author has said what everyone else was afraid to say. This is the all-out truth about DJ myths and marketing. Highly recommend this book.

I received How To Avoid DJ Horror Stories as a shower gift. As a bride-to-be, this book quickly became my best friend! It is as funny as it is informative. (The cartoon illustrations are really funny!) I learned so much from reading it that when it came time to interview DJs, I was able to spot, ahead of time, some of the myths and sleazy tactics referenced in the book. It actually saved me time (a precious commodity when planning a wedding). I especially liked Chapter 13, AFAQs (Answers to Frequently Asked Questions). The author literally answered every question that crossed my mind. Furthermore, I was pleasantly surprised with how easy the book was to read; it felt like the author was actually talking to me. How To Avoid DJ Horror Stories is a "must have" for any bride going the DJ route. Highly recommended!!!

In such a vast field as DJ services, it nice to be able to find the true gems among the pack. This book was instrumental in helping me select a DJ for my wedding, and I was EXTREMELY pleased with the results. If you want to know how to identify a "line" when you hear one from a DJ, GET THIS BOOK!

I've been a Disc Jockey for 25 years and have seen it all - this is hilarious - be careful who you book though. Read this and you should get a good Disc Jockey and have a great wedding/party!

Mr. Harrison is probably a good mobile dj but he makes the mistake of assuming regional preferences (such as clients not wanting lighting) and that most weddings go 4 hours is true all over. More importantly, there are numerous occasions where he states his opinion as fact. If these were truly facts, there would be documentation to back them up. There is a lot of good advice in this book but it's mixed in with a lot of opinions and outdated information which the target audience would like have difficulty sifting through.

If you like scary books this is the book you should be reading. Ever sense Ian's death his cousin Spencer Turner feels it is his fault. Spencer tried to save Ian from his drowning death but he almost drown when he tried to save Ian. Spencer has tried to contact the spirit world to let Ian know he is sorry that he tried to save him. Spencer gets so desperate he spends his last $30 on a machine called The Howler. When he decides to play a trick on his friend Scott it all goes wrong. He release 5 ghoses from Scott's attic. that had been locked up for more than a centry. He finally gets to see Ian again while he is dead and Ian forgives him and gets rid of the 5 ghosts. The setting is mostly at Spencer's house. Some of it takes place at Scott's attic and at their school. But the story starts out at the pond that they were ice-skating at when Ian drown. Do you think we really are able to reach the spirit world with a little machine???

Ever sence Ian's death his cousin Spencer Turner feels it is his fault. Spencer tried to save Ian from his drownding death but he almost drownd too. Spencer has tried to contact the spirt world to let his cousin know he is sorry. Spencer gets so desperate he spends his last $30 and a machine called The Howler. When he decides to play a trick on his friend Scott it all goes wrong. He release 5 ghost from Scott's attic that had been locked up for more than a centry. He finally gets to see Ian again and Ian frogives and gets rid of the five ghosts.

The desperation of the main character in this story is so true and powerful that it indeed feels like you are living through it, and for me it was like living through a nightmare. Buy this book.

This and Camp Nowhere are definitely the best books in the Nightmare Room series thus far. This book is a movie in itself, and R.L. saves it from being a ridiculous idea into a somewhat heartfelt and scary horror adventure. I highly recommend it - great reading and a classic.

The Nightamre Room #7: The Howler is probably R.L. Stine's best book yet in his newest creepy Goosebumps type series, with a unique twist and excellent story that distinguishes this book from past books. Probably one of his scariest books he's written, and with a story that is sure to keep eyes glued, I loved this story more then any of the others in THE NIGHTMARE ROOM series. Spencer Turner was devastated at the shocking death of his cousin Ian last winter when they were skating on the ice with some friends. Even as Ian fell through the ice, Spencer had tried his best to save him -- but he almost got killed himself trying to do so. Spencer survived, but his cousion Ian did not. Ever since, Spencer wants to contact Ian's ghost and tell him how much he had tried to save him, and how sorry he is of Ian's tragic death. He becomes so desperate that he eventually purchases an item called the Howler from a ghost supplies shop. The Howler is able to make Spencer hear the howls of ghosts -- and even though Spencer is terrified, he'll do all it takes to reach Ian...somehow. But maybe he gets more then he bargained for. The terror that ensues will make Spencer wish he'd never even dream of buying the terrifying Howler. This was a spine-tingling, scary, and page turning book in R.L. Stine's terrifying new series, The Nightmare Room.

I Only Have Fangs for You (The Young Brothers, Book 3)

Absolutely loved this book. Recommend the whole series to anyone who loves a good entertaining story. This books gives the final brother the love of his life with a definate twist at the end.

Such a cute story. I can just imagine that women far and wide will fall in love with Sebastian, if they haven't already from the two previous books. He's sweet, funny, sexy, and with a boyish grin to boot. I loved the fact that even those he love (like his family) assume the worst of him...but only in that we love him, anyway sort of way...and he is flabbergasted upon discovering this. He's definitely found his match in Mina. The meetings of super-everythings (given like an AA meetings) were hilarious. I feel this book has definitely surpassed the first two.

This book (the 3rd and last of the Young Brothers)was full of twist and turns. First the heroin was not typical. The bad guy well you just aren't sure to the end. And the end well let's just say it wasn't.
You will enjoy this book and fall for the Young brothers all over again

There is nothing really to say except READ THIS SERIES! The writing flows, the characters have soo much personality and the storyline is great! I have all her books and intend to keep it that way! You should too!!

Sebastian loves being a single vampire. What's not to like? He always looks young and women love him. Sebastian even runs one of the hottest nightclubs, Carfax Abbey. Mina Weiss is working at as a waitress at Carfax Abbey, only being a waitress is not Mina's real job. She and her organization are out to close Carfax Abbey in order to protect the unsuspecting human patrons. When Sebastian finds out Mina's true mission, he's determined to convince her that he's not a monster. He offers her a challenge, he'll refrain from biting anyone for a month if she'll let him show her just how much fun it is to be a vampire. Let the challenge begin!

I Only Have Fangs For You is more than a just a treat, it's a complete four course meal! Constantly the ladies man in his brothers' books, Fangs For The Memories and Fangs But No Fangs, watching Sebastian finally meet his match was hilariously funny. Kathy Love has a true gift for delivering sexy romance with a side of comedy that will keep me coming back again and again for another serving!


Melissa
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

My name is Christian Panaite and I'm from Romania.I was in the team who worked at the production of History of the devil in Princeton High School, NJ.Till then I hadn't heard about Clive Barker but reading "Incarnations" I discovered a new world full with horror and mistery- it was a very interesting experience.Acting in his play was a great event for me -I was Milo Milo and I was very proud that I had the smallest part from the play.There are so many things to say about his books -I think that his style is unique, he is unique ,his world is unique.

In the realm of books filled with a play (or plays) this one is a real delight. Barker always satisfies in drawing the reader into highly imaginative realms of mythology, psychology and suspense - with wonderful surprises along the way.

If you are in the mood for a handful of soul stirring plays, I recommend this one along with The Walls Came Tumbling Down by Wilson.

My only complaint is that Barker's usually intriguing forwards sometimes give too much away, akin to a reviewer who provides just a tad too much insight. However, one could save the forward for after the plays.

Barker is a literary genius who spins the most amazing stories. To visualize them as theatrical releases on the stage is very intriguing.

Great work.

This book of plays was one of the best I have ever read. My fav of the three was Frankenstein in Love. The monolouges by Maria were superb and amasing. Her monolouges made me want to put the play on myself. Colossus was a little harder to get into but it was well worth it. In The History of The Devil speaks for itself. In all three plays the wrighting is some of Clive's best. It's well worth the effort to find this out of print book and keep it for a life time.

Arguably the best play of this collection is The History of the Devil. Where the other two plays are a nice potent dip into the macabre, the Devil is a mind-blowing experience that gets you where it hurts the most: your conscience. What is evil? What is good? Can we judge anything? It isn't surprising that even Dante has a cameo role in this play.

I would love to see this play in production somewhere near me. Although it would not be as visually appealing as the other two plays in Incarnations, since it lacks scenes of cannibalism and dismemberment for instance, it surely must be a wonderful experience to see the actual Devil on stage.

Nice to know is that the actor that gave live to the Devil in the World Premiere of The History of the Devil as presented by the Dog Company at The York and Albany Theatre, London, in 1979 was none other than Doug Bradley, the guy that plays Pinhead in the famous Hellraiser movies.

As a conclusion I can reveal that the end of the play as a very nice twist to it. This collection shows Clive barker at his best. A must read for all fans of the macabre.

A few years ago, I picked up a copy of PANDEMONIUM, a softcover overview of Clive Barker's works. While I found most of the material interesting, what blew me away was the first ever printing of Barker's THE HISTORY OF THE DEVIL. Quite simply, it is one of the best plays I have ever read. It is demanding, thought-provoking, funny, obscene, and brilliant.

HISTORY is centred around the trial of the Devil. It is not so much a criminal proceeding, than it is an evaluation of his works on Earth. If he wins, he may re-enter Heaven. And as his history is re-enacted on stage, lawyers both for and against his case struggle to find a legal way to keep him where he belongs.

As in most of Barker's works, a simple description doesn't do it justice. HISTORY is an amazingly theatrical experience, all rooted in one of the most intriguing views of the Devil that I have read. While not being familiar with the more classical works of Dante and Milton, I can say that Barker's Devil is a far more satisfying and frightening figure than the demon presented in Anne Rice's MEMNOCH THE DEVIL. The play also presents one of the most original and shocking endings I have ever read, in a play or a novel.

The other two plays presented in INCANTATIONS are a mixed bag. FRANKENSTEIN IN LOVE is the more satisfying of the two. In a re-imagining of Mary Shelley's work, FRANKENSTEIN occurs in third world dictatorship, full of chaos and mystery. If I am not as enthusiastic as I am about HISTORY, it is that Barker's ideas in FRANKENSTEIN don't wholly combine. It has humour, horror, an astonishing amount of gore (I don't know HOW this would ever be staged), but by the end, the horror has taken over the story. It leaves you wishing for more of a coherent ending. Still, some scenes do remain in the mind, especially the scenes involving the dead, but still animated narrator.

Barker's third play, COLOSSUS, is the least of the three. Ostensibly, it surrounds the Spanish painter Goya, as he stumbles around after a tremendous bombing has destroyed a large portion of an estate. As I don't know anything of Goya, I can't speak as to the effectiveness of the sets in bringing out the mood of his paintings, as Barker suggests. But the play doesn't hold water. It is a amalgamation of confusing characters and odd dialogue. It has an unfinished feel to it. As this was one of Barker's earlier works, perhaps he can be forgiven it biting off more than he can figuratively chew. But as a published work, it functions as a curiosity, not a fully-formed play.

Still, Barker is one of the more interesting writers around. He's always willing to try and push the envelope, instead of resting on his laurels (anyone read Dean Koontz lately?). Read FRANKENSTEIN IN LOVE and COLOSSUS for the ideas. Read THE HISTORY OF THE DEVIL for the experience. It really is that good.

I came a bit late to this work of E Robert Orn, having already read his 'Not Quite Hell' and 'The Midnight Lunch Truck', both of which were published after this one. I guess I expected something like a work in progress...something not quite up to the standard of his later work but showing signs of his talent.

How wrong was I? Pretty much as wrong as I could be. This is just as good as the slightly more devilish 'Hell' and 'Truck'. Eloquent and with some excellent turns of phrase, 'Eye' takes you through an event.... skydiving..... that terrifies most of us, with skill, humor and an obvious knowledge of the sport. The descriptions of the exercise are wonderful.

Then ERO does what he does best. He turns the ordinary into something else and deflects your gaze, just enough to set your mind off on the wrong track, before he lands the knockout punch.

Just as that punch lands, you will fondly remember the journey through those azure skies and slightly darker clouds. Great stuff.

This story was incredible as it weaves a nice little family-style outing to go sky diving. We feel as though the characters, Alan, Janice, and TJ are well known to us, as they are brilliantly brought to vivid life by Orn's mastery work. The story moves along nicely, and appears nearly a literary type of story, but hiding just beneath the surface, and between the lines, is something sinister. Something that creeps along, edging to your reality, then plunges you into the very terror of it. I found the story strangely informative at first, and interesting. Then I found it exciting, wonderfully thrilling, and vividly imaginative, while being creepily realistic and frightening. You will believe in monsters that hide behind the clouds! I had already read Not Quite Hell, by Mr. Orn, and have now considered myself a complete Fan! Will be reading The Midnight Lunch Truck soon, and anything else I can find with E. Robert Orn's name on it.

The myths we read about are sometimes fun pieces of literature that some distant person makes up...Or,not. Allen, Janice and T.J. are friends that love the adrenalin rush of jumping out of planes for the fun of it under the canopy of a parachute. They are part of a unique group of people who find fun and camaraderie with others who enjoy the same thing. The day is just like any other, as these three friends prepare to get ready to get into the plane. They joke with each other and watch the clouds seeing shapes and can't wait to be among the clouds themselves. They have no idea what awaits them...

I don't want to give it away, so I'll just say that Robert Orn is a great storyteller and his characters and plot were well written. I really enjoyed this story.

Reviewed by Vickie (Tory Lynn, author of My Charming Protector)

As if I weren't already afraid of heights... E Robert Orn skillfully cajoles you into the sky with Janice, Alan and TJ for an adventurous leap. Once you're there enjoying the immersion into nature and organic freedom with them, the scenery changes to something even more riveting. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride "Into God's Cold Gray Eye".

E Robert Orn paints a vivid picture of life on the Drop Zone. He captures the easy camaraderie of sport parachutists and the banter that flows back and forth prior to a jump. It is after the exiting the plane that things begin to change. What really hides inside those dark storm clouds? Those who have never ventured there will never know.

What an unexpected turn of events. This isn't your average run of the mill thriller. Meg fights to discover who has been sending her threatening letters and ancient pieces of jewlry before the threats made come true. The most likely suspects are not who they seem, but neither are the least likely. A must read!

I've read all of the book by Barbara Michaels that I can find and I love them all. This was the first one I read and it's definitely my favorite (and the only one I've checked out of the library 4 times). The character and plot development are terrific. The ending is unpredictable (as with many of Michaels' other books). I liked the storyline and all of the characters. Overall, this is a good book and I would recommend it to anyone who likes mystery, romance, or jewelry.

Every novel Ms Michaels/Peters has written usually has some element that grabs my attention, whether or not I know I am interested. And I am interested in jewels ahem lots of delicious jewelry. Lovely antique jewelry. Bless my little fede ring. Uh....anyways. Little heiress Meg Venturi has a mystery on her hands---what killed her 90 year old gramps? Her Ms Danvers-type housemaid suggests one of the possible suitors for Meg, Mr Riley. A mysterious, ugly, burly typ'o'dude. You know, Ms Michaels favorite kinda man....Meg decides to enter into a business partnership with Riley, regarding jewels, which the whole town of Seldon disapproves of. Some one keeps sending her threatening rings and tries to run her and her lawyer off the road---who could it be? Sexy cousin Cliff? Surly vet Riley? Surely not sweet, passive Uncle George? Maybe Gram will message it to Meg direct from Dan,you know, Gramps, FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE--- All in all, a pretty good story. The whole supernatural element was pretty low key, darn. But the sexual attraction was there! And no food; Meg always pushes her food around her plate all upset. But she does have a piece of strawberry-rhubarb pie....

Barbara Michaels pens two kinds of thrillers -- lackluster and dull with unsympathetic characters, and sparkling, vivid and populated by "real" people. This, thankfully, is one of the latter, a delightfully twisted mystery that sparkles as much as any of the gems.

Meg Venturi becomes the heiress to a jewelry fortune when her grandfather unexpectedly dies; among the conditions of her grandfather's will are that she must take over half of the ownership of his respected gem and jewelry store. The other half is the domain of his partner, a dark, silent, mysterious man named Riley, whom the townspeople suspect of having killed the elder Venturi. Meg is unsure about Riley, but she does know that he is brilliant with jewelry.

But then strange, sinister happenings begin to occur around Meg. As she tries to unravel the dark mysteries that destroyed her grandfather before his time, she becomes the target of a killer with a mission that stems back to a scandal many years before...

"Into the Darkness" has many of the best attributes of a Barbara Michaels novel: the witty dialogue, subtle characterizations, strong heroine, unusual romance, and a wide range of supporting characters who are never what they seem. Readers who enjoyed lessons on roses, maze gardens, and old Gothic novels will enjoy the informative lessons on jewelry and gems. As she always does in her best books, Michaels includes plenty of information that will stick in the mind without being annoying.

Meg Venturi is a standard Michaels heroine: tough, no-nonsence, mildly sarcastic with a bit of trauma in her background to add extra dimension. Riley is more of a dark horse: it's hard to tell what he's thinking or why, from his first scene onward. Supporting characters like the despicable wimp Candy, her boor husband, the seemingly fragile Mrs. Venturi and hearty Uncle George are all well-rounded from the start, but with hidden depths that are revealed as the book goes on. Even the grandfather is a very alive figure, despite the fact that he dies at the beginning of the novel.

This is more of an "Elizabeth Peters" mystery than a Barbara Michaels one, as there is virtually no supernatural influence, no cults or ghosts or werewolves or anything of the sort. But it is an excellent mystery for those of you who like a little sexy pizzazz, past scandal, and a lesson or two with your guilty pleasure.

Whether the author is writing as "Barbara Michaels" or as "Elizabeth Peters", you are likely to get strong and interesting characters. At heart, this mystery has a lot in common with the gothic romances I read in my youth (except that the heroine's grandfather was popular instead of universally hated by the villagers). I enjoyed the painless lessons on jewels (particularly since I also find diamonds boring). Heroine Meg has four men to consider: Nick, her current boyfriend from New York; Cliff, her handsome stepcousin; Darren, the old schoolmate become family lawyer; and the aloof, mysterious Riley, widely believed to have murdered his benefactor, Meg's grandfather. The old hand at gothic romances will be looking for the clues that will spell out which of these men is the blackguard in disguise -- and will probably still be surprised in the end. There's a Old Family Scandal that needs to be revisited, a housekeeper who loves to play the roles of certain famous fictional housekeepers (including the infamous Mrs. Danvers), an old-fashioned gentlewoman of a grandmother, and a treat of a cat (unless you're a cat-hater). There are other characters with their own stories and personalities. I'll leave you to make their acquaintance in your own good time. Notes: Meg's grandfather's opinion to the contrary, it takes courage to seek therapy. It takes more courage to try again if the first professional you turn to doesn't work out. For those who have read many of the author's books under both names, I should explain that INTO THE DARKNESS is really in the Elizabeth Peters style so they won't read this book with the wrong expectations, as I did.

Yet more great stories from literary master David Lubar. Plenty of short
sharp shocks to give kids the shivers as Halloween approaches!

My kids and I loved this book. It is full of great short stories. It would be a great book for a reluctant reader because the stories are so short. The reader can have many short, entertaining reading sessions without the chance of getting bored. While camping this past weekend my son retold many of stories from this book while we were sitting around the campfire. They really are great spooky campfire stories!

This book is creepy but not to creepy,that's what I love about this book. Some of these storys are funny and creepy. My favorite story is "Nigh Fishing" its really creepy. I recomend this book to everone, Lubar strikes again!

In the book Invasion of the Road Weenies David Lumber tells scary stories to scare the readers and get them excited about what's going to happen. This book is fiction book so the kids who like fiction books should read this amazing book. I like this book because its fiction and it get me to visualizes what's happening in the story. There are all sorts of stories in this book like the " TANK" or "COPIES". In the "Tank" this kid saw ripples in the water and was wondering why there was ripples in the water. And in "Copies" these boys go to work with there father and finds a copier and puts there face on it and copies one thousand copies and they come out with out a face. There are 35 wonderful stories in this book Bt Tyler

If you want to read a book but you don't know what you want to read, you should read INVASION OF THE ROAD WEENIES written by David Lubar. Invasion of the Road Weenies are all little stories you can laugh so hard you'll almost cry of laughter. You might think it is dumb at first but it
will get really funny. I think this book should be 4 stars. I like one called COPIES. Copies is about a little boy and his brother that go to their dad's work for bring your child to work day. The two boys see a copy machine and decide to use it. The older brother puts his younger brother's face on the copy machine and accidentally presses 1,000 copies. Then the older brother sits down on another to copy his behind. Then finally when the copies were over they see that their face and behind was gone! If you like the beginning you'll really like it in the end. I hope read this book and I hope you have a good time reading this!!

Harold Jaffe is one of the few writers I trust to never disappoint. Readers familiar with his numerous collections (namely his trademark DocuFictions) will be pleased to find all his dark-and-smart tricks in one book (my personal favorite is his question-and-answer un-situated dialogues) as well as a few fresh narrative swirls (telephone transcriptions, formal letters, and the like). And for those not accustomed to his work, you're in for a treat, the darkest of chocolates... and then after there's plenty more where that came from in 15 Serial Killers (recently translated in French!) and Sex For The Millennium.

The multiple voicings, the clean prose, the ongoing play of ambiguities and transparencies all add up to make Harold Jaffe's Jesus Coyote a very smooth book. We expect it to be disturbing of course. No surprise there. What catches us off-guard is how engaging it all is, how easily it goes down. I recently watched a Manson documentary, and was surprised at how trite and dull the behavior of Mansion and his women seems now, almost 40 years later. Jaffe has taken what at this point looks like played out subject matter and made it work as literature. No mean feat.

Jaffe's provocative tour de force pastiche of one of the best-known episodes in popular culture history analyzes and undermines the Manson myth.

As with 15 Serial Killers and other texts in his ouvre, Jaffe neither celebrates nor turns away from the violence or the perpetrators of it but looks beyond the easy responses, the media knee-jerk sanctimony, and cable network fetishization of Manson, intimately re-imagining and making new what miles of newsprint and videotape and collective historical amnesia have turned stale.

And beyond all that, it's an enjoyable read.

Harold Jaffe has emerged as the most critically important writer of our time. In the midst of a publishing world full of commercial texts littered with clichéd romance and crime drama; a literary world infected with mass-produced, politically correct "workshop" fiction; and a journalistic world plagued by false "non-fiction" accounts sold by charlatans and purchased by acquiescent conglomerates, Harold Jaffe' work--fiction and "docu-fiction"--offers acute societal insights in the context of innovative, highly energized fictive and literary structures, epistemological investigations, and compelling character portraits.

These are the characteristics which define Jaffe's latest work, JESUS COYOTE, an incisive investigation and portrait of events, characters, social dynamics, and motivations surrounding Charles Manson and his followers. Notably, JESUS COYOTE, refers to actual individuals only obliquely, by action and tangential reference, renaming those individuals involved. Additionally, in the text timelines are inverted and/or conflated to emphasize societal connections. However, it is clear that the motivations for these literary choices have nothing to do with concerns of legalistic accuracy or limitations of artistic license regarding public figures, but rather these literary choices function tropologically to expand the presentation of characters and events such that they can be examined within their larger social contexts, in addition to being viewed individually. This scrupulous literary process enables a macroscopic overview and provides an organic unity to the ostensibly nonsensical acts of Manson and his followers, and presents their subculture as an outgrowth of the facades and failures of dominant society, as opposed to an individualized societal or psychological aberration.

JESUS COYOTE has a bifurcated form. The initial sections of the text provide a series of communications, via telephone, media, office memoranda, and personal conversations, among various characters which, taken together, comprise an outline of a myriad of social forces. The next sections of the text provide personal statements of various characters, forming intimate psychoanalytical portraits which exist both autonomously and in relation to the social dynamics set forth in the first sections of the text. This combination offers an examination of "reality" in its completed form: an ever-fluctuating relationship between reality proffered by social, institutional, and political forces as a societal exoskeleton-- juxtaposed and conjoined with individuated perceptions. In a larger sense, this combination is in fact a representation of the tension between collective consciousness and self-perception.

The result of this polarized representation is to generate systematic social investigations, particularly as they concern institutional and commercial dysfunctions. The prison system, both juvenile and adult, is delineated as the primary producer of Jesus Coyote, and the de-facto creator of his power as both a misfit and master of society at large. Throughout this society at large, potent capitalist strains lead to the commodification of all aspects of human behavior: police "operatives" sell their information, psychics provide no guidance and betray their patrons for material gain, media sources forsake the Jeffersonian "need to know" for titillating headlines at the expense of accuracy--fully aware that in a repressed and commodified society, consumers are hungry for grisly and lusty details to enable vicarious experiences.

Such media sales dynamics are inexorably linked with the ever-present, quasi-Puritanical desire of institutions and government to control sexuality and utilize the inherent repression of that control to fuel consumerism and materialism. As Coyote acolyte "Hedda" explains from prison, merging broad socialist orientations with a 60's free-love agenda: "In America..., the body is seen as private property, another kind of capital. With us, the body was communal property..." As if to provide an excuse for readers' lurid fascination with sex and violence, the dominant society depicted in JESUS COYOTE engages in a never-ending attempt to blame all aspects of counter-culture behavior on drugs as a shield to cover any inherent dissatisfaction with that dominant culture itself.

Jaffe's literary form in JESUS COYOTE allows the expansion of subject matter beyond the original Manson-related events and personalities, without minimizing the importance and intrigue of individual personalities. Broad concepts such as ecology and free will are explored in statements by Coyote-followers Hedda and LuAnn during an illegal interrogation:

Hedda: How much will does a leopard in a cage have?
LuAnn: How much will does a homeless person have? ...
Hedda: How much will does a polluted birch tree have? More than you can imagine.

And as America-centered as JESUS COYOTE is, transcontinental social commentary is evident nonetheless, as in veiled criticism of a European filmmaker's careerism and egocentricity, even in the face of his young wife and child's brutal murders. Yet French and American preferences in media stimuli are differentiated, as are artistic and bourgeois perceptions of events. Reporting the murders, American headlines immediately highlight drug-use as the cause of events, while French media emphasize orgying and sexual mutilation. And while bourgeois American readers avidly consume specific details of the crimes, self-proclaimed European artistic-geniuses and cognoscenti eschew the banality of those same details. Upon close inspection, it is clear that these very assertions of banality are in fact attempts at self-inflation and self-congratulation.

The character investigations in JESUS COYOTE are both generalized and specific. The precise nature of Coyote's manipulative power and imagination is exposed, including the content of his linguistic guises, which simultaneously invert stereotypes and merge polarities--Jesus as Satan, Beauty in Death, etc. And always, death itself exists simultaneously as threat and premonition. Coyote harnesses the power of sexuality by preaching a "free love" which is by no means free, but has its own tithes, purveyances, and instantiated rituals. Yet Coyote's power is seen to be more than merely psychological and manipulative. He embodies a certain spiritual connection and enables a form of peace and belonging which his young followers find irresistible, and irresistibly satisfying. Moreover, the connection with the natural world that Coyote professes seems, in part, to be actual and documented. At the point in the text when Coyote, sleeping outside with his young lover, is apprehended, the police report: "The peculiar thing is that [their] sleeping bag was surrounded by a pack of coyotes that growled at us but then fled." The implcation is that Coyote had in fact summoned his animal brethren for protection.

In JESUS COYOTE, Harold Jaffe has once again created a text which is both extremely significant from a literary point of view, and intensely incisive from a sociological standpoint. The text is simultaneously informative and provocative, entertaining and cautionary. It is this multi-leveled nexus of forces, conscious and unconscious, which the genius of JESUS COYOTE conveys.

Jaffe continues and extends his 'docufictional' exploration of
'deviance' in his latest novel, "Jesus Coyote," based on the Manson Family murders. With elegant style, Jaffe illuminates that strange moment in history where media coverage of Charles Manson and his counter-culture band of "Family" members held America hostage with the notorious Tate/LaBianca murders. Philosophically revolutionary, Jaffe analyzes the subject matter in a Rashoman like format featuring the viewpoint of participants and victims alike.
As the author so deftly reveals, Revolution is the intent; a revolution of consciousness where Manson is societies' scapegoat and the media driven capitalists the antagonists. Intelligent readers will see the subtle point of how the media circus uses the murders as a means to deflect public attention as far away as possible from the US government approved mass murders in Viet Nam.
These string of "docufictions" continue where "15 Serial Killers" leaves off. Much like "Kissinger," which points out that killing, if it is carried out by Navy Seals or Blackwater mercenaries is "necessary" and "heroic." Here, Jaffe exposes the embedded hypocrisy in each of these strategically architected stories. The result is a carefully crafted tapestry of graphic elegance that is complexly combined with a new revolutionary consciousness. The skill with which the author handles such serious subject matter resonates with his razor-sharp wit and high-beamed laser critique aimed directly at the target.

Its nice to have these graphic novels so as not to ruin the orig1nal comicbook versions. Of course these are nice collectibles too! for those insatiable KISS fans!

This book contains issues 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the Kiss Psycho Circus comic book. Three stories are told: 'The Witching of Adam Moon', 'Nature of the Beast', and 'Smoke & Mirrors'. All of the stories are very compelling to read, especially if you are into dark fantasy or horror. Issue # 3 is my favorite in this book. (Although the entrance of the character Kismet in issues # 4-6 is a welcome addition, not to mention Madame Raven's backstory.)

You do not need to be a fan of the band in order to fully enjoy this book, but fans of the band will enjoy all of the hidden Kiss references. Brian Holguin is one of the best comic book writers in the business and he works very well with Angel Medina/Kevin Conrad. Their visual storytelling style is excellent. Go visit the circus, you won't regret it.

I thought they did an excellent job on this book. I can't wait for book 2. The artwork is spectacular. The storytelling was good, but the overall story was slightly lacking. My biggest complaint was that it was too short. I need more. So raise your glasses to the crew that put all the hard work into this one... Buy it.

You wanted the best you got the best! It's a f***ing great comicbook. See ya at the Psycho Circus tour '99

This book includes issues # 7, 8, 9 and 18 of the awesome comic book Kiss Psycho Circus. Each issue is a one shot story that can be read by anyone- fan of the band or not. (Issue # 9 contains the great origin story!)

Brian Holguin really knows how to write compelling tales, and Angel Medina and Kevin Conrad work really well together as far as the art goes. The art in the last issue is by Clayton Crain, the current penciller. Great art + Great Stories = Must have book!

Wow! This series just gets better and better! I don't even like horror, but these books strike the right tone. Delightfully creepy (boys will love it), but not too intense for children ages 10 and up. I loooove the narrative voice. The main character's simple, matter-of-fact voice balances perfectly with the story's melodramatic horror. The main character is very endearing. You'll be cheering for him. The plot has evolved nicely from book to book. Read Book One first, and you'll eagerly turn pages to get to this one. I love the characters, love the story, love the writing style. Love it all! Can't wait for more!

I bought this book hoping my 12 year old grand son would possibly get interested in reading. He not only got interested, he read all the subsequent volumns and cant wait for the 5th book to come in Sept. BUY IT for the problem reader.

I was so excited when I got my hands on this book!!! It defintely holds true to the series, and just might be better than the couple of books. Full of suspence and wicked nasty plot turns. AMAZING!!!! Can't wait for the next one.

I picked up these books on a whim, and discovered a wonderful series.

When I found out that the fourth was to be released soon, I quickly bought the second and third books and practically devoured them, finishing them in a day. The same goes for this book; Attack of the Fiend is as deliciously thrilling as the last three, and scary enough to make reading this book at night questionable. After reading the first book late at night in the dark - with the exception of my booklight - I read the other three during the day!

This book got my heart going, and I felt like I was really in the book - as nervous as Tom, and anticipating the worst.

I can't wait for the fifth book to be released; I also really hope that more happens with Tom and Alice - I can't help but love those characters. Not to mention, Alice is an intriguing character, because we're never really sure if she's a good or bad witch...which makes her all the more interesting.

I had the lay down date marked on my calendar, and couldnt wait to run down to the store as soon as the day came to get my copy. I had read the previous three installments and did a 5 star review on book two, The Curse of the Bane. Delaney just keeps these books remarkably riveting, scary and intense. This was the longest book yet but by far the best of the four. Our young Apprentice is getting stronger in his abilities and getting more independant to work on his own now without the constant guidance of the mighty Spook. I like that his character is growing and not staying stagnant even though the time period between book one and this book four is only a year and a half's time. This installment, Attack of the Fiend, offers more wonderful suspenseful, edge of the seat action. The scare level is right up there from page one to the end. Last Apprentice fans can not be disappointed in this new book in any way and are sure to just say "more please". Delaney does leave this installment a little open ended so that we for sure know that book five is on it's way so that we readers get resolvement on the episodes we get in this book. This is a fabulolus horror series for kids and adults and truly topnotch. I'd like to add praise too to the sensational illustrator. Not only are the cover designs remarkable but each chapter head page evokes true dark and eerie scenes that seem to scream off the page. High praise here, very very high praise for a series that is not sliding in interest, it is escalating into greatness. I eagerly await book five. I just cant wait!