Horror Books

Recommendation:
I would recommend this book to everyone who likes mysteries and thrillers. I would have to say that this would be my most favorite book that's thriller and mystery. In one of the scenes in the book Grayson finds a newspaper and it said "I KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND I'M WATHING YOU. DON'T SPOIL MY PLANS AGAIN, OR YOU'LL BE NEXT!" Another reason why I like this book is because there is a little romance in it. The romance is where this guy she likes asks her "Maybe we can take a walk through the park instead, then, and you can get in some more practice. Its called Monument Hill. Want to go sometime? Sometime soon?" So he asked her on a date. So if you like thrillers and mysteries with some romance, than this book is for you.

The book Second Sight was a pretty good book. Grayson is a girl who had been blind and had a transplant so she could see. Something went wrong, but what? Throughout the book Grayson is kind of like a spy she has to figure out why she is seeing bad things in her dreams then they come true.I would recommend this book to someone who likes to read mysteries and who can keep up with a fast moving book.Also it is a book that can keep you reading from page to page because of the charactars real life form.

I thought that this book was really good because it talks about a girl that gets sugary and she gets another person's psychic abilities and she can see murders before they happen. I liked it because it was so real that it seemed like a movie and I got really involved in it. I really think you should read this book.

Grayson has had an operation in her right eye and now she can see. But she can see more than normal. She has visions and her eye doctor ignors them. But when the visions are clearly murder she has to goto the police. She finds out that she has got a part of the eye belonging to a psycic.The killer knows her secret and wants her dead. Reviewed by Vikki Carr

This book was totally great. I read it from start to finish all at once, without stopping once. The story is of a girl called Grayson. She has been blind, but an operation means that she can now see again. The donor was a police psycic, and now Grayson gets her visions, and is helping to solve murders. The only thing is; the murderor knows Grayson. Read and see..

This is the most comprehensive Suppliment for Call of Cthulhu...especially for the Secrets of "" line they have. Thicker than the core book and is literally a better reference than my Japanese language books. The scenarios in the book are ok but don't take advantage of the source they draw from. The author takes various different angles to develope styles of play within the game and can expand from the basic Lovecraft style. You can even involve Delta Green type of flavor from this book. Even though it does not come straight out and say Delta Green. I think some players and GM's may be intimidated by conceptualizing a Secrets of Japan game but I found my players quickly picking up things during the game because of how much Japan oriented stuff we are exposed to in the media. The material is for the modern time and not for the 1920's as most of CoC is based in.
It's very well put together but is a big read if you don't know too much about Japan. It's well worth the price and invaluable resource for any GM.

Secrets of Japan is a new supplement for the Call of Cthulhu role-playing game that moves the setting into the present day and to the far east of Japan. This massive supplement is actually larger than the actual Call of Cthulhu game book, which should give you some idea of just how thorough and comprehensive it is. It covers virtually everything that the original book did but slanted towards play in Japan. Author Michael Dziesinski begins with an introduction to Japan, its people and culture. It's this milieu which makes it unique from the original game which while providing information for playing in the modern day, was still heavily slanted towards play in the 1920's.

All aspects are revisited including character creation, occupations, which include many new ones such as Bushido "The Way of the Warrior" which certainly gives some punch, or kick, to PC's. There's also many new skills, magic, and of course, being in a modern setting, weapons and vehicles to utilize. Dziesinski goes so far as to provide the scope on how PCs find themselves in Japan to begin their investigations, assuming you're not using characters born and raised there. This is an interesting approach as you do become a stranger in a strange land, which certainly adds even more mystery to the game.

There are lengthy sections on religions and cults and other shadowy organizations and how they all interact with the Cthulhu Mythos. It's very well thought out and harkens back to yellow menace pulps of the 30's and 40's. Several new monsters, elder gods, great old ones, etc, are included. In addition, there are new, complete adventures included as well as a couple of dozen adventure hooks and ideas that the Keeper can build on. The depth and scope is quite staggering. That is the book's greatest strength and perhaps its greatest pitfall. There's a LOT to try and absorb and you have to wonder if players are going to want to invest the time to learn this new setting. There are great ideas here and it's certainly possible to run a campaign using just the ideas that fit you and your players, and adding more detail as you go along.

Ultimately it will be up to the Keeper to decide how much to use. There's no shortage of source material, that's for sure.

Reviewed by Tim Janson

Japan is a natural setting for Call of Cthulhu. It is a place absolutely festering with monsters, beasts, ghosts and horrors of every possible nature. Combined with a long history and an enigmatic culture, the possibilities for adventures in both modern and past times is boundless. And with Lovecraft's fear of what lies under the sea...why, any trip to a sushi restaurant could be a sanity shattering experience.

Michael Dziesinski has put together a tome. "Secrets of Japan" is a thick book, and the author was sure to pack in as much as possible from his considerable knowledge. The first section, Atmosphere, provides a crash-course in Japan both ancient and modern. Politics, social life, technology...everything you need to give your game the appropriate mood. Other sections detail more specifically game-orientated information, including secret societies and power groups, new skills, magic and characters. The final section contains some very short scenarios, and a collections of scenario ideas. Due to the depth of "Secrets of Japan", it would be great to see a companion volume of scenarios for those who don't really have the time to home-cook their own.

The format of the book also keeps in mind the various way people view Japan. He has a tongue in cheek comic strip running through the book called Cthulhu Sushi which is very funny. A certain giant green famous monster of filmland makes an appearance, although slightly altered. There is even a short section on running Call of Cthulhu anime-style, which made me do a sanity check when I read it.

However, for all of its excellence as a Call of Cthulhu game book, no one should mistake "Secrets of Japan" as anything like an authentic book on Japanese society and folklore. Although Dziesinski deeply mines the rich history of Japanese monster tales, he freely molds them to suit the game, something leaving little resembling the original beast other than the name. He also makes some mistakes in his Japanese translations, specifically in his section titles "Cultural Lexicon", where he attempts to show aspects of Japanese society using the language. This is no terrible error, however, as it doesn't affect game play in any way.

Secrets Of Japan: Surviving The Mythos In Present-Day Japan by Michael Dziesinski, et.al. (1568821565, $34.95) is a guide to roleplaying in modern Japan: a survey of the underworld of Japan which serves as a battle-ground for primordial entities. Japanese cities and suburbs receive histories, roleplaying insights, and extensive links to Cthulhu in this guide for Cthulhu roleplayers in modern Japan. Packed with black and white artwork and complexity: a 'must' for serious Cthulhu roleplayers.

Chaosium shows why their Call of Cthulhu line is considered to have the best supplements by both old and young turks in the game industry. This book is exceptionally well-researched and written; any gm interested in running a game in Japan or using Japanese mythology in a rpg would do well to have this book. I'd recommend it to Keepers, period; it encourages you to think about the Mythos and its relationships in a new light the way that the tragically underrated Creature Compendium can.

I recommend Secrets of Japan to every Keeper out there without hesitation.

Holy .. this man is brilliant and twisted .. and, well .. brilliant and twisted! I can't wait to read the novelization but from what I know first hand from his work in the past, I will be sure to leave the lights on when I do.

If Dan Madigan were not a writer, he would be the next BTK!

Horribly intriguing.

Dan has a keen ability to bring you right into the action, as sick as it may be.

We're waiting for your next one Dan.

A lot of books find their way onto my desk. Many of them get "re-gifted", and when I saw a movie tie-in novel for a film starring pro-wrestler Kane, I was pretty sure I knew where this was going to wind up. Caught in a last minute grab for something to read on a flight from LA to NY, I wound up with this in my carry on, and to my pleasant surprise I was wrong in my initial assessment.
This book is good.
It is better than good.
I haven't been this excited to discover a new writer since I read Jack Ketchum's Girl Next Door. Dan Madigan may be a new name to horror fiction readers, but he's obviously been digesting this stuff for years, as he has turned out a compelling page turner that challenges the conventions of the typical slasher. If the set pieces in the novel are to be any indication of those in the film, I'll be seeing it on opening day. I see that the author is also credited with the screenplay, and that makes me very happy.
This novel has made the very short list of movie tie-in novels which transcend their purpose -that of merely fulfilling the media frenzy associated with selling tickets. But not only has it transcended, it has excelled.

SEE NO EVIL is superb horror and far more than a novelization. The writing is muscular and visual. The characters are intruiging, authentic and 3-dimensional. The story is fascinating, and the plot moves swiftly. There are many bone-chilling moments. Dan Madigan reminds me of a young Steven King. I look forward to his next tome of terror.

Dan Madigan's first horror novel reads like the work of a seasoned pro. "See No Evil" is a breath of fresh air in a genre of fiction that has become too tired (like Stephen King) or too feminized/glamorized (like the execrable Ann Rice). Madigan's writing takes horror into new territory: a landscape of brutal terror, fright, and a place where the word hope is completely unknown.

His writing style is lyrical, his sentences resounding with the ethereal quality of Edgar Allan Poe's dark poetry. If anything, Madigan's style is reminiscent of the films of Dario Argento: both are full of brutal gore, but the way the violence is executed is operatic. Nothing is held back when it comes to the violence. Compared to the flesh tearing, eye gouging, vulva ripping action you have in "See No Evil," King's works seem as tame and non-threatening as the fluff on Oprah's Book of the Month club.

Most brilliant is Madigan's perfect realization of the so-called monster of the text, Jacob Goodnight. Much of the novel is told through Goodnight's perspective, and through his eyes, the reader comes to understand and appreciate the violence in his nature. It is rare that a book can achieve the impossible, and make the apparent villain transformed into the only pure character in the text, while the alleged "good guys" are revealed to be morally bankrupt and heinous individuals who deserve to die.

Society, itself, is ultimately the monster in "See No Evil": set in modern-day California, we see the results of a society where political correctness and moral relativism have taken over. Every criminal in the text is treated with kid-gloves by the prison system, and pampered by social workers who feel their crimes are only the result of a "bad childhood," and, therefore, excused. Police officers, on the other hand, are treated like dirt in this modern day Sodom and Gomorrah. Jacob Goodnight is, paradoxically, the only character who has a clear set of values.

While it is being marketed as the novelized version of the film of the same name, it should not be treated as such. Dan Madigan himself wrote the screenplay, and has said at conventions to promote the film that he had an earlier version of the novel written BEFORE submitting the screenplay. So this should not be dismissed as a crass adaptation of an already-existing film, the way trashy novels have been made out of "Star Wars" films or other films, just to swindle people out of their money. In fact, the book is reputed to have far more gore and violence than the film.

"See No Evil" is a triumph of true horror. If you are squeamish, then do not read this book. If you are looking for pretty boy vampires, Jacob Goodnight would have had them for dinner. This is not for wimps or the faint hearted. Madigan's writing is reminiscent of HP Lovecraft and Bret Easton Ellis's "American Psycho," while at the same time being completely original in its approach. Get this book while you can: it will be a limited edition, and its value will skyrocket once Madigan's next book comes out.

I love this book!!!!!
The monsters and the way they are described sound great!!!!!!!!
This is also a very imaginitive and superb.
hey, Bill Brittain, if you are reading this........MAKE A MOVIE!!!!!!! talk to a producer or something and make a movie!!!!!!!! that would be awesome!!!!!!!

I like this book becuase it has a surprising ending. The entire book is one surprise after another. I would recomend this book for two reasons. One, it was weal riten and two, it is a short read.

This book uses your imagination and keeps you reading

I loved the Shape Changer. Fek is cool, he changes into a wierd lizard who tries to take over the universe. It is up to Frank and his friends to find Fek and save the universe.

Shape-Changer is about an alien named Zymel and two kids who try to capture an evil alien named Fek. The aliens can change into anything from a gnat to a mountain. I thought that having aliens that can change into anything is a great plot twist for a sci-fi book. It made the book a lot more exciting because of the animals that the aliens turned into. This is an excellent book and kept me hooked through all the pages. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to have a good read.

Remember when all the big name authors wrote good, original stories that transported you to the described scenes, when hours would pass by unknown, and you would lose sleep because a story gripped you so tight that you couldn't close the book. What happened? They lost their edge or will to write good stories and just slapped their big selling names on anything with words. Its been a long time since I read a book that I decided to keep so I could *gasp* read it again and again. That has changed. Mr. Moser has re-ignited my want and need to read stories again. His attention to detail is perfect, his style is edgy, and simply put, the man can lay down a story. I hope he continues his pursuit of storytelling and topples the big name giants that have held their thrones for far to long.

Onces again, the swirling darkness of Sardonica ensnares you with its murky tendrils, returning you to the land mystery, magic, and monsters.

She-wolf is the second installment of Moser's dark fantasy series and is even more enthralling than its predecessor "Angels Blood." A prequel to his first novel, She-Wolf pulls back the curtain on the secrets surrounding the powerful Von Darcovich bloodline. With unforgettable characters (even the minor ones) and a chilling plot, She-Wolf is a must!

I love this book! It gives you enough to enter the world of Mages and werewolves... I can't wait til the next book out in july

The prequel to the dark fantasy "Angel's Blood," She-Wolf unravels the dark beginnings of Belladonna Von Darcovich, progenitor of a powerful bloodline destined for great things. In the bold style that fans have come to expect, Shaun Moser acquaints us with the outstanding tale of power, intrigue, passion, glory and strife. If there's any one fantasy novel to pick up in '06, this is absolutely the only choice.

'She-Wolf' is the second book, and the prequel to the first(Angel's Blood) in Shuan Moser's grim fantasy series. Packed with vivid and sensual details, an addicting plot, and attention demanding action, Shaun Moser's book is a must-read. After the reader is enthralled by the prologue, he or she will find it a struggle to put the book down. Anyone who is tired of strung-out plots, boring dialogues, and ridiculous themes will find themselves elated to have discovered this amazing work of fantasy and gore. This is hands-down, the best book I have read this year.

I'v read better gossebumps books but i have to give this book 5 stares it real

My mom got this for my birthday. Me and her read it in one day. I didn't think i could sit there that long. But the story in the was so cool that the time went really fast. My mom says i shouldn't tell about the story, it gives it away, but to say how great the book was. And it was great. Your son's my age would love it too. I am 9. and my little brother is 5. he sat there with us. it was a cool book. i can't wait to read the others with my mom.

u r on a 2 week vacation 2 japan with a friend and no parents.
this should be a total blast---if u can survive it. a man u meet aboard the ship claims this ship is a secret labratory
which turns passengers into sea crestures.the man warns u 2
jump overboard because he plans on blowing up the ship.should
u warn the captain? will u be turned into a giant shrimp if u
stay aboard or will u jump and risk fighting killer sharks in the icy waters?the choice is yoursin this scary goosebumps adventure packed book!

You and your friends are going on a two week vacation in Japan. But there is trouble. Will you turn into a giant ship or will you swim to escape but battling sharks? The choice is yours!

This is a Ship Ride you wont forget!! You go to a vacation to Japan...ON YOUR OWN! This is 1 deadly cruise. Will you be turned into weird creature?Or will you drown in the ocean? Th real Question is will YOU SURVIVE?!It's up to you!READ IT!!

Like i said in my review of Volume I, the stories are rather bland and tame, but they do transport you to a time when this genre was being explored in comic form. A great addition to a comic book buff's bookshelf.

Delve into a story at periodic intervals and you will not get bored or find it repeititive.

Congartulations to the artists for their fabulous artwork, which is exquisite, all hand done, no computer software to help them !

Buy it, read it, enjoy it, don't lend it !

If you are a fan of older horror comics, for instance the EC line, don't miss these! Although not as gruesome as comics like Tales from the Crypt, this still has that classic comic flavor that is lacking in some of the newer horror "graphic novels". Recommended.

One era/genre of comics that seems to get little attention are the horror comics of the 1970's. For a genre that seemed almost a throwaway back then there certainly were a myriad of titles being produced. DC had House of Secrets, Tales of the Unexpected, Ghosts, Ghost Castle, The Witching Hour, Weird Mystery, Dark Mansion, Phantom Stranger, and of course, The House of Mystery. Funny thing about all these old horror comics that seemed to be so lightly regarded...they had some of the best artwork around. The roll call for the second volume of "Showcase Presents The House of Mystery" includes such masters as Berni Wrightson, Neal Adams, WM Kaluta, Gil Kane, Gray Morrow, Russ Heath, Wally Wood, Nick Cardy, and Jim Aparo. It's an incredible lineup of artists.

The second volume re-prints issues #195 - 211 of the regular comic series, spanning the years 1971 - 1973. By today's graphic standards, the stories are somewhat tame. One must remember that the dreaded Comics Code Authority still had their control, pre-direct distribution. The stories in House of Mystery owed a lot to the EC Comics of the 1950's, often going for shock endings with twists of irony. One can also see influences by many great early horror writers on these stories such as H.P. Lovecraft and Arthur Machen.

"Things Old...Things Forgotten" certainly seems to be one of those tales influenced by Machen's lore of mysterious and ancient woodland beings, far older than the human race. This tale finds a would-be conqueror cutting a path through the wilderness to try and surprise his enemies, until he encounters something far more dangerous than man. Writghtson illustrated this story and its one of the best in the book.

One of those stories of ironic morality is "The Beast's Revenge" illustrated by Mike Kaluta. When a man kills his own sister to get her half of the family farm, nature decides to take its own revenge. An amusing story with art by Jim Aparo is "The Demon Within" about the drastic means a mother and father use to curb their seven year-olds ability to transform into a hideous demon.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the spectacular covers of these issues, the bulk of which were done by Adams, Kaluta, and Wrightson. The ghostly Adams covers for 197 & 198 are masterpieces, My favorite cover, however, is Wrightson's Lovecraft inspired pieces for issue #204. This depicts a gruesome, slime-like creature with multitudes of eyes all over its shapeless body. Wrightson's Dracula cover for #211 is another standout. There's no doubt that the best covers of the early 1970's were found on The House of Mystery. Providing some comic relief throughout the book is longtime Mad cartoonist Sergio Aragones with his always hilarious cartoons.

This is just great stuff and at $16.99 for over 500 pages of comics, it's a great value as well. Five out of Five Stars!

Reviewed by Tim Janson

HOUSE OF MYSTERY, HOUSE OF SECRETS, CREEPY AND EERIE...ARE ALL THE COMICS YOU EVER NEED...PERFECT.

LOUISXXX

I was captivated and enthralled by these comics when I was a child -- adults always felt that comics were awful, a distraction from "real" books, from "real" reading.

However, for many of us, these books actually led us to creative writing, and good literature -- these comics led me directly to Ray Bradbury, John Whyndam, M.R. James and countless other quality authors. Later, these kinds of stories led me onto the likes of Chekov.

Of course, reading these comics some 30 years later, they don't have the same enthralling sense of the magical -- but one can appreciate them in other ways. One feels transported back to that time of naivety, when the stories were like a world complete, a space complete unto itself.

The other point to mention is the extraordinary, quality artwork by unsung greats such as Redondo, Nino, Alcala and others , most of whom were from The Philippines.

Get "House of Mystery" as soon as possible if you were a fan of the genre back in the 60's and 70's -- and at the price, how could you go wrong? You will be transported back ( mentally at least ! Though who knows??? ) to the time when you huddled alone under the bed covers, or read alone in a quiet room on a rainy afternoon, enchanted by these odd, weird tales.

A real trip then, back into time of childhood -- a time of naivety, creativity and wonder.

David Paul, the protagonist in "The Shroud of Torrington," experiences life-transforming events in a captivating story that includes elements of such notable books/films as "Left Behind," "The Exorcist," "The Da Vinci Code" and "Flight 93." (Huh?!)

The book has interesting, well-defined characters and is full of fascinating and conflicting theories on the nature of Ultimate Reality from varying perspectives -- scientific, philisophical, theological, biblical, hedonistic, narcissistic, demonic and amoral.

The villain is a "good" love-to-hate demon-possessed symbiotic; be forewarned: some of his wicked deeds are highly disturbing.

I had a hard time putting this one down, even though I'm more of an adventure/western fan. "The Shroud of Torrington" is not only engrossing but highly stimulating on both an intellectual and spiritual level.

My wife read it too and we both agreed it'd make a great movie.

Jeffrey Messenger proves that not all talent is found in the big conventional publishing houses.

The Shroud of Torrington is smartly written with an interesting premise and an absorbing plot. The very human characters take the story in unexpected directions and little works out the way one might expect all the way up to the very end. The pace is quick and taught; I only put the book down when I absolutely had to.

I was also extremely impressed with the author's very careful research into the historic content of his novel.

I finally got a chance to read this novel, after hearing my wife and my son rave about it. I haven't finished it, but am deeply absorbed in the plot and the characters. Mr. Messenger brings it all to life, a life that starts out seemingly ordinary, but that turns extrodinary as soon as you start to identify with the characters. I'll finish this review when I finish the book - can't wait to get back to it.

This is a gem of a book - I read it cover to cover in one day (it's that engrossing!)

In this book, Jeff Messenger weaves a story about both the good and bad in our society but with a supernatural twist. The driving forces in this book are man's faith in God and some people's lack of; trust and loyalty, in both friendship and love, and the incredible inner strength one can muster up in the face of seemingly impossible odds.

Cut short, it's a paranormal who-done-it intertwined with an amazing amount of factual research into the realm of the supernatural, where the two highest powers are constantly at odds - God and Satan. But it's how the characters become entangled in this power struggle that makes this novel so fascinating.

He brings to light his character's flaws and weaknesses in the same manner he does their shining traits, making them real and believable.

But the crux of the story is how a shroud, remarkably similar to the infamous Shroud of Turin, mysteriously appears after a helpless innocent is corrupted in the most heinous manner imaginable. Everyone wants answers regarding this event - the police, scientists, scholars and debunkers, and most importantly, the small circle of friends closest to this poor soul who left his mark on this new shroud. But no one will get them without a major leap of faith: acknowledging that there *are* supernatural events, both good and evil, that occur in this world that cannot be explained by modern science.

Jeff Messenger's knowledge of both the actual Shroud of Turin and the historical facts that back up it's legitimacy are paralleled only by his knowledge of supernatural occurrences, and he blends them perfectly with credible characters and a very original story line. At times it's terrifying, culling from the author's actual knowledge of how supernatural and demonic forces can and do walk this earth and often wreak on mankind, and at times it's heartwarming, especially when the hero is forced to reconcile himself to the fact that the world he has built for himself is not a perfect house of cards, but one that can only be kept together by his willingness to accept that stronger powers, both good and evil, often do orchestrate the world we live in.

But it's the surprise ending that will make you blink - and make you look forward to his next published work, whatever avenue that may explore ...

Barbie Heid and Dave Considine,
Phantasm Psychic Research

The Shroud of Torrington is a work of fiction that includes much research. It's a story that includes Christian research, Shroud of Turin research and paranormal phenomena. Unlike most books written from a Christian world view, it also references research and theories that go against the author's philosophic thrust.

Whether or not one likes the philosophic thrust of this book, one will find it hard to put down. The characters are everyday people in extraordinary circumstances, and I actually got caught up in their lives. The story's villian is the most disturbing character since "Hannibal Lector!"

Do yourself a favor, and read this story! Chad Barlow

You don't have to share Mr. Rainey's enthusiasm for military aviation history to enjoy Sky of Thunder, Island of Blood. White knuckling through the eighteen pages of story, sitting in a lawn chair on my deck, I could not resist a look at the sky to reaffirm my safety. Still unsure of what may be coasting above the clouds and out of site, I plunged further into the atmosphere of suspense. Sky of Thunder, Island of Blood is a marvelous read, and worth well over the asking price. I recommend this story to any reader, who enjoys being on the edge of their seat, and--despite the pain--likes finishing a story to find they've bitten their nails into the meat.

Stephen Mark Rainey puts the P back in terror... I'll be checking the mysterious skies for weeks to come.

When this writer edited Deathrealm, a popular horror magazine of the '90s, he did such an excellent job in selecting outstanding writers who later made big names in the genre that I couldn't wait to read this short story.

And he didn't let me down. He's a gifted writer ... and if you love getting goosebumps while you read, you gotta read this story.

Recommended highly. And while you're at it, try my first horror story, V.O. on Amazon Shorts too.

SMR -- the triple-named auteur threat in the form of Stephen Mark Rainey -- pulls off a Mack Truck-sized whale of a tale in this exciting WWII-era chinwag.

Now careful, kids, as I'm going to be employing a strict "cloying cliche followed by a cliche-buster" style of writing on this short, so you betta' keep up now, y'hear?

SMR demonstrates a tremendous breadth of know-how regarding the Second World War's air battle sequences; in this particular case those which transpired over the narrow English Channel separating freedom from tyrrany (wasn't the world so easy then? We knew who the bad guys were).

I'm sure you'll find yourself -- as the person known as ADM did -- smack inside the cockpit with these various musk-smelling sweaty combatants as a number of other reviewers did during this swift little read.

I present the facts:

This story proceeds smoothly and cleanly.

There are hardly any snags, and SMR's got a nice grasp of the British vernacular -- in this case, the Queen's dialect as spoken on the Isle of Wight, south of the mainland proper.

Rainey appears touse his dialogues like a matador does his pointed spears against the toro in that age-old barbarism known as bullfighting...anyways he peppers you with these speech thingys, rather than driving them straight through your noodle.

SMR needles you and tweaks you and runs you around the enclosure a few times, tiring you out, right enough! And then -- just then -- when you think you've caught your breath and made a comeback -- SIS-BOOM-BAH! HOCUS-POCUS! -- Rainey hammers forward with the masterstroke like a fencing mastro to reinforce the notion of just how tired you really really are.

Okay, back to the guts of this story...because you didn't come here to be entertained. This War -- capital "W" -- stuff is very serious business, indeed. :-)

Look, alright, get off it already. You're going to love the aspect in SKY OF THUNDER, ISLAND OF BLOOD of not-quite-knowing-where-you're-supposed-to-be-ness (it's a word, search for it online -- you'll see your picture next to it). You'll love how -- as the tension mounts in this grassy-knolled whodunit ::: hiccup ::: -- you're not quite sure if it was the downed kraut pilot with the Luger who did it, or was it that bucktoothed body-odoured peasant with the pitchfork, or perhaps it was the...

This sort of thing.

In adhering loosely to the strictures of the genre -- what I'm going to call the Catholic Church which permits same-gender-loving priests to officiate in the service, "religion lite" (sorry, it was the best metaphor I could come up with on short notice)-- SMR keeps you on your twinkle-toes, ratcheting (love that word) up the pressure until it's ready to -- bwaaaaaaahahahaha! -- explode.

Questions of who, where, and how will pop into your head; and as soon as you've answered those, you'll want to figure out the crux of the "what" and the "when" ditto, because you're sympatico and always fair to the Five Double-You's.

Back to what I was saying...

SMR mixes up the business in this page-turner. For tart, he adds a little girl, Rachel/Rake (hey SMR, we throat-grind our "ch's" in the former Czechoslovakia, so please don't shorten Rachael to "Rake" next time please --> it should read Rach...and GRIND those "ch's," shnookems, GRIIIIND 'EM BABY!).

For scent, he adds in the characters of Billy Addison and Sir Matt McInnis, Anglo-Saxon alter cacers who don't have access to clean water on the Wight Isle in which to bathe...so they're a little past their freshness date. SMR begs your forgiveness for that. For spice, we've got the old grokel, that kraut flyboy Vogel (pronounced Fogel -- trust me, SMR, we former Czechoslovakians know German hegemony and occupation when we see it, ja?) who knife-wields, goose-steps, and "achtung, baby's" his way through this fine Turkish-cotton-weaved (or Egyptian-weaved, depending on which is cheapest at this time of year) tale; Vogel redeems himself, and hopefully this tarnationed "pure race" in the end.

Nice touch, brother. Made for a lip-smacking goulash. Yummy yummy good.

I'm hereby gracing HEAVEN OF LIGHTNING, ISTHMUS OF CORPUSCLES with five stars for the following reasons. So listen up now:

1) SMR, you ain't no wannabe writer. You clearly know what you're doing by Superman-esque leaps and bounds, and you're published, for chrissakes. Like they do in that old Nabob coffee commerical, I'm separating the wheat from the chaff, the bad java beans from the good. Check.

2) How often do we get to hear about the air part of the PENULTIMATE GLOBAL CONFLAGRATION, formerly known as WWII? It's great to get something else other than Polanski, Shpielberg, and the whole Europe-cult of guilt, oy vey. Kudos and salutations for that, shnookems. I kiss you a thousand times.

3) You used the word "pteradactyl/pterodactyl" in a sentence. Jaggers, it's the equivalent of a triple word score and I'm going to grant you the five stars JUST for that.

I've got more reasons, but -- mush, mush -- you've got writing to do. Well? What are you waiting for. Get to it!

To everyone else:

You see. You like. You buy. Don't dillydally. Get yours today!

-- ADM in Prague (and I'm not on absinthe, so get off it will ya?!)

The research behind this piece is obviously deep and complete...the machines come to life as do the men behind the controls, and though they come from opposite sides of a very earthly conflict, when it becomes men against something darker, they stand as one....good stuff from an avid flying buff and a talented author.

Look, I don't want to spoil any of this. Just drop your .49 cents and rush back here to say thank you. Mr. Rainey has really outdone himself with Sky of Thunder, Island of Blood. You will not be disappointed. It's thrilling and goose-pimply and worth far more than the price of admission.

~Bob Freeman (www.cairnwood.net)

As an American, it hurts to admit that Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the quintessential expression of American cheekiness and derring-do, has been best chronicled by a Britisher. Of course, I'm teasing a bit. But there is no question that Keith Topping seems to have a better grasp of what is important in the Buffyverse than many of his contemporaries on this side of the ocean.

What Topping does not do is write one agonizing reprise after another of all the episodes of Season Six of the show. As viewers will no doubt remember, Season Six was quite agonizing itself without that point being hammered home all over again. Instead, Topping provides very short synopses, followed by myriad details of things that are unique, funny, or perplexing about each episode.

You will be treated to paragraphs on 'A little learning is a dangerous thing' (the power of misinformation), 'Denial they name is...' (Self-delusion in Sunnydale), 'It's a designer label..' (clothes, of course), valley-speak, geek-speak, logic errors, and ever more items that bring to light the aspects of the production which the viewer, caught up in the story, is likely to miss. All of this is done in a style that is an enjoyable mix of tongue-in-cheek and respectfully serious.

Topping is an excellent researcher. His ability to find countless relationships, both intentional and accidental, to other atavars of popular culture is uncanny. Nor does he hesitate to introduce the reader to the more analytic writings on Buffy and the Scooby gang. Despite the spottiness of Season Six, Topping manages to ferret out all the good parts - to the point where I have to admit that the book is better than the season.

If you are a fan then you will want this book. And you will want to track down Topping's other efforts on the show that nearly ate South California.

I have the edition of Slayer for seasons 1 through 5, and it is really a good guide of the series. This book continues with the same fun observations, facts, and quotes. I know some people hate season 6, but for those of us that love it--this book is worth it. If you don't like season 6, maybe this book can help you see the good things about the season.

For those who liked Keith Topping's British perspective in his earlier 'Slayer' volume, here is an update. This book covers only the 6th season - Buffy's resurrection, the Trioka, the musical, Willow-as-evil, etc. Each episode receives 5-to-8 pages of coverage, organized under various thematic headings: Plot summary, music, memorable quotes, comments on the women's clothing, continuity errors, logic flaws, pop culture references, etc. Topping seems to have caught everything, down to the tiniest continuity error.

There are also separate essays on (1) series creator Joss Whedon, (2) the network switch to UPN, (3) an update on BtVS novels (about a paragraph on each), (4) an update on BtVS and the internet, and (5) predictions for the 7th season, which was the last season of this underappreciated series that never gained the viewership it deserved.

Season six is in my opinon the best Buffy season ever.
If you don't like it read this book. It will change your mind.
If it doesn't, then go back to watching Bewitched or Buffy season one. I guess the true spirit of the Slayer is lost on you.

This book covers the sixth season of Buffy and is the next volume in Keith Topping's 'Slayer' episode guides (the previous 5 seasons are covered in a single volume, also available from Amazon). Keith does his usual thorough job covering each episode in detail. Even if you disagree with his views, you can't dispute that he has a deep love for the show and a healthy respect for all those involved in its production.

As I have stated in other reviews, Keith Topping's Buffy and Angel books are the best unauthorised episode guides on the market. If you are a serious fan of Buffy and Angel, you only need the official guides and these books.