Horror Books

I loved this book. It's one of my all time favorites and I was so crazed to hear that it was out of print. Everyone should read this book and it is so unfair that people can't get it now! I can't wait for the next Janice Harrell book and I just hope the next is as good as the last.

Janice Harrell keeps up her pace with book 2 "The Betrayal". You become more involved with Joanna and Penn, digging deeper and deeper into the secret that Penn and his group of friends share. Now its time to tell Joanna about it, and now she's apart of it. This book is very suspenseful and keeps you guessing...of course another cliff-hanger ending leaves you to track down #3 "The Escape" (I hope to find the last one in my local library!)

This book was one of the best I have ever read. I can't wait to see what happens in the last one. It has a weird change of events that keeps you interested.

Joanna has now discovered what really happened to Laurie. But it's even more complicated then it seems. She is growing closer to Penn, but she doesn't even know if he's told her all her secrets. And one of the group, Casey, is blackmailing the others. Stephen, Laurie's killer, is about to snap. Joanna can only pray Casey isn't his next victim. There was a lot of suspense in this book, but it's probably been wrongly labeled as a horror story. It's more mystery/suspense.

What kid doesn't like R.L. Stine? My boy read it a couple of times and will probably read it more. It's a hard cover - it'll last forever! Really happy with this purchase.

The perfect collection of scary stories. My grandson and I cuddle in a large chair with the lights turned down. I read each story with character voices which he loves. There's not a boring story in the bunch. We have a wonderful time.

I would also recommend Scary Stories: The complete 3-Book Collection by Alvin Schwartz.

This is a really good book. It gives you a full picture in your head about what each author is talking about. I recommend this book for you.

On the threshold of R.L. Stine's favorite holiday, Halloween, he's come out with a wonderful new book that is like a witches brew with multiple ingredients. The main ingredient in BEWARE is 'scary'. Added to the mix of scary stories, are some funny ones, tantalizing poems, a horror-comic, spooky illustrations, and like a cherry-on-top of an ice cream sundae, are R.L. Stine's intriguing introductions. I really liked reading an assortment of thrilling stories, R.L. Stine's favorites by different authors,the two he wrote himself, and two he retold. The scary ones definitely gave me chills. I now have a new appreciation for rats, ferris wheels, halloween costumes, elevators, witches, ghosts, and all kinds of creatures that can surface from one's imagination. Everyone will have their own favorites...Another cool thing are the spiders and cobwebs that trickle down each page while you read...This is a great book for both children and adults who like twists and thrills.

The Big Punch is a stunning debut novel. It's not for the faint of heart, but if you like dark, surreal fiction and that you won't soon forget then you must read "The Big Punch". Louis Maistros is an author whom I think we'll all be hearing much more about in the future.

... well, it's Raymond Chandler meets William Burroughs. Sort of. Not your usual Stevie King clone, but a really twisted, gory (yet hilarious) surreal caper. If you dig the likes of Caitlin Kiernan and Poppy Brite (or the above mentioned authors), buy it now.

Louis Maistros' THE BIG PUNCH is stunning-a frenetic, darkly comic voyage through mindscapes of characters who, from page one, we instantly care about. It delivers train-driven wallops to the gut in atmosphere, pacing, mood, and style. The voice is original, fresh, unhurried-all marks of seasoned veterans. As a first novel, it stands head and shoulders above the crowd. But it doesn't just stand, it taunts. The sheer weight inherent in Maistros' noir fiction coupled with his deft cutting hand when using more horrific elements make for a smooth, technically flawless treatment of what dark fiction should be all about.

The writing is crisp, clean, and relentless; the characters deep and fully realized.

THE BIG PUNCH is a novel you will not soon forget.

Loved it! A page turner. Truly chilling, like taking a stroll through hell on earth. Loved the orange haired rat, Ida Mae and Becky, the blind man, Janice, of course the Black Delia, and naturally Jack. Great cast of characters, too many to actually mention all of them. And the voice was incredible, very distinct, humorous but not overly done that it took away from the horror yet enough that it didn't pull me too down into these awful happenings. Wonderful balance. Very unique story, an original I'd say. I've never read anything quite like this. The Horsemen was something I was not familiar with. The Big Punch itself, or theater, I had some inkling of a memory but was surprising pleased to have discovered that these underground theater shows was also called the Big Punch. And the main character Jack--what can I say about Jack--he's my hero, even if he is slightly flawed.

I enjoyed this novel very much. It was sad, or more accurately, melancholy like a John Coltrane song. But don't let that statement mislead you. It was well written and enjoyable. Mr. Haughton delivers a tale that is as unique as it is engaging. I will anxiously await his next novel.

After reading this book, and then reading the above Publisher's Weekly review, I can only wonder: What hungover grad student is doing that magazine's book reviews? This novel mixes humor and pathos in a way that mirrors real life. As Dickens, Twain, and now John Irving understand, tragedy and comedy walk hand-in-hand with us through each day. Hautmann realizes and conveys the same thing. This is a book that will linger in your soul for a long time. I've bought it for my friends who have everything, and I've heard no complaints.

In Naples, Florida, one year has passed since young Casey Cooper lost his beloved wife Ginny. Stunned and feeling guilt for living and culpability in his mind for causing her death, he remains in mourning as an urban hermit with only alcohol and jazz as his companions. His friends have written Casey off and his family is on the verge of excommunicating him as his depression overwhelms anyone who dares to enter his personal space. Only Ginny's cat Mashed Potatoes remains a companion though he often forgets to feed the feline.

Suddenly out of nowhere Eleanora enters Casey's life singing with a voice and a look that make her an identical twin of Billie Holiday. No one else sees this enigmatic Eleanora with even Casey wondering if it is the bottle, his mental state, BILLIE'S GHOST or a real person? Still Casey does not care as Eleanora with the jazzy voice moves in with him. She provides him with a reason to rejoin the living as she boosts his self esteem.

This is a very simplistic yet deep tale that provides several messages to the audience to include accentuating the positive in relationships because though mankind imposes but God disposes without warning and grieving is exclusively a lone act. The three key players, Casey, his deceased wife, and Eleanora are cleverly designed to provide insight into how far someone can fall when a loved one is lost early and abruptly in life and that grieving and recover are customized within a powerful character study.

Harriet Klausner

"Billie's Ghost" is a whopper of a love story, ghost tale, and mystery all wrapped up in a deceptively small package. Enter the tropical paradise of Naples, Florida, a Gulf of Mexico resort blending old, historic bungalows and fabulous high-rises. A young widower is struggling with his grief, virtually sinking into oblivion, when Eleanora appears, a sultry, salty, hard-drinking, beautiful black woman. Discover how she changes the life of this man forever and decide for yourself if she is real or not! You will be fascinated by her humor, allure, and compassion. Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of ravishing southwest Florida, a region engaged in its own struggle to balance the conservation of wildlife habitats and the preservation of its history, against a burgeoning population. At the conclusion, you will rejoice and chuckle, and always wonder!

I loved this book! It was exciting and the ending suprised me. I have had the pleasure of meeting this author and she is just as interesting as her book, if not more so.

I am hoping she will write again. I would love to see a prequel to this novel. Paul is a very sexy and enticing character and he keeps you wondering what will he do next.

This book is very well written and definitely not an average ghost story. Makes you question how much of this was based on true accounts.

You first need to read the section "about the author" before going further into the book. Then ask yourself, is this fiction or not?
A good story that could easily be made into a movie or short film. Each chapter pulls you to the next one. It flows from the real to the surreal without any hiccups. Makes you wonder how much is really fiction here.
A book worth reading and an ending that you may expect but then again.................

The first review practically said it all. I am hoping the author is working on part two. I'm ready to read more by C.X. Alexander. The ending is not what you expect, and the author should get extra stars for that!

This book kept me invloved from the very start. You fall in love with the charecters, you become mesmorized with the story telling. This book will keep you interested with the ghosts, the characters, the mystery, and after several chapters you'll wonder if it is a love story, a ghost story, or a love story about ghosts. It is very intense, it's not a book for children as there are many scenes in this book that you'll want to try out with your lover. It has a surprise ending and you'll not want to put this book down until the very last page is read! One of the best "scary" books I have ever read!

It is said that the greatness of a writer lies in his/her breadth and vision. If this is true, then Fritz Leiber has proven himself one of the greatest fantasists to grace 20th century fiction. The stories in this volume represent a precisely chosen set of pieces that demonstrate this fact. Leiber shows skill in science fiction (Spider Mansion), suspense (The Phantom Slayer), horror (The Thirteenth Step), and those genres that lie in between (The Dead Man). His ability to transcend and simultaneously perfect genre is paralleled only by Bradbury. This ability contributes directly to his strongest attribute, his vision of what he wants to do with a story. Many current (and to be honest, past) writers in fantasy literature have made the mistake of putting genre before story (e.g., a writer who ONLY writes science fiction). This tendency of putting genre before story is perhaps the greatest fault in all of fantasy literature. This tendency is absent in Leiber. For Leiber, story is paramount, genre is secondary (if even a consideration at all). Even in his early, semi-Lovecraftian pieces, such as The Dreams of Albert Moreland, story never becomes secondary. Leiber has a vision he wishes to present. Though it must be admitted that his vision never approaches (at least in this selection of stories) the magnitude of a Lovecraft, it must also be admitted that very few writers ever do approach that magnitude (with certain notable exceptions such as Ligotti). Yet, Leiber never sacrifices that vision and this refusal to sacrifice that vision results in some truly outstanding pieces of weird fiction. It must be admitted that sometimes that vision is flawed and so the story as a result is flawed as in the case of The Creature From Cleveland Depths. But on the whole, that vision is usually highly effective or even years ahead of its time. For example, in Lie Still, Snow White, Leiber presents a story that predates the "erotic horror" genre by decades and surpasses all but one or two stories that genre has produced up to the present. Had genre been a consideration for Leiber, that story might never have seen the light of day. John Pelan has truly done a service by giving us such a clear display of the literary powers of one of weird fictions greatest practitioners.

Fritz's other stories from Mouser Series to the Horror novellas' of "Our lady of Darkness" and "Conjures Wife", are better known, but these short stories entertain too.
From the preisient title story "The Black Gondolier" to the classic Gothic Horror of decay and science gone wrong of "Spider Mansion" come into Leiber's mind and enjoy the 'dark' side of science fiction horror. 90% of the 18 stories are worth reading and re-reading.

This edition is a trade paperback reprint of a hardback titled THE BLACK GONDOLIER & OTHER STORIES published in a limited numbered edition of 460 by Midnight House in 2000, now out of print, difficult to find and quite expensive; it's a treat finding this reasonably priced version.

Co-editor John Pelan writes "...Leiber belongs to that pantheon of great writers that have shaped and molded the field of fantastic literature in the latter half of the twentieth century." As far as I'm concerned, Fritz Leiber reposes at the pinnacle of this literary hierarchy: he is a writer of major importance whose long career is awe inspiring. Whether it's science fiction, fantasy or horror, his writing is of the highest order: cliche free, varied and fine to the point of being prose poetry. Such a shame that so little of his short fiction remains in print. Another reason to rejoice at the publication of this book.

In it you'll find the following stories:

"The Black Gondolier"-A story set in Venice California about the diabolic plans for humanity being hatched by petrolium.

"The Dreams of Albert Moreland" - The tale of a chess master engaged in a match against a dark power.

"Game for Motel Room" - In which a man finds that the "woman" with whom he has a tryst isn't what she seems and whose jealous husband's revenge could be world shattering.

"The Phantom Slayer" - A man inherets his dead ex-cop uncle's boarding room and belongings which includes a police uniform and the files from an unsolved serial killer case; in his dreams the man wanders the streets in his uncle's uniform and witnesses murders.

"Lie Still, Snow White"-a necrophiliac ruminates about his obsession to his next victim.

"Mr. Bauer and the Atoms" - Mr. Bauer fears that the atomic powers contained within his body could destroy the world.

"In the X-ray" - A girl's evil twin sister gives her a final embrace.

"Spider Mansion" - How has the midget Malcolm Orme become a giant? What is the mysterious rustling and clicking that comes from the closed living room and why does it so frighten Mr Orme's servants and wife?

"The Secret Songs" - Two drug addicts visit their interior worlds: he in his slumber and she via TV, glue and glitter.

"The Man Who Made Friends with Electricity" - Mr. Leverett is delighted to rent a house next to high tension electric transmission lines because he THINKS electricity is his friend until he discover that it, or is it they, isn't/aren't true blue American/s.

"The Dead Man" - A love triangle involving a doctor, his wife and his expeiment's subject who possesses the ability to manifest diseases through hipnosis.

"The Thirteenth Step" - A twelve step meeting has an unexpected visitor.

"The Repair People" - Welcome to the repair shop where two "Repair People", a journeyman and an apprentice, extract, rearrange and reinsert the dream wrapped souls into blobs. Or is is slobs?

"Black Has Its Charms" - An alcoholic wife castigates her husband and tells him why he should murder her.

"Schizo Jimmy" - Are modern witches merely persons who are carriers of insanity; typhoid Marys spreading pshchosis?

"The Creature from Cleveland Depths" (Erroneously titled "The Lone Wolf" in the table of contents.) - Gusterson a surface dwelling inventor/novelist dreams up "ticklers" which prove to be more "helpful" to dwellers down under than expected.

"The Casket Demon" - Film star Vivian Sheer is fading and only the notoriety given by fighting her family's demon will substantiate her.

"Mr. Adam's Garden of Evil" - Taggart Adams, publisher of "Kitten" skin magazine, has a sinister secret in his subterranian garden.

My brief "high concept" renderings of these stories does them little justice because the manner of Leiber's story telling and the variety of voices and approaches he uses are so much more that can be described in one sentence synopsis.

Buy this book and be amazed and delighted.

Fritz Leiber is one of the all-time greatest writers of the weird tale. Short stories like 'The Dreams of Albert Moreland' are justifiably classics of the genre. I would say that his OUR LADY OF DARKNESS is my favorite horror novel ever.

BUT A MAJOR CAVEAT FOR THIS EDITION:

This paperback eReads edition is one shoddy production. My copy has poorly printed, somewhat blurry text (if you look closely at a given printed letter, you will see small white gaps all through it) that is headache-inducing. There are also numerous typos. And, even though I am very careful with my books as I read them, this one is getting a rolled spine quite easily.

I believe that THE BLACK GONDOLA was originally published in hardcover form by John Pelan's Midnight Press, along with two other volumes (HORRIBLE IMAGININGS and THE SMOKE GHOST - very nicely done but now out of print and hard to find). Leiber remains a master whose works deserve to be printed in superior editions. Paging Centipede Press, Night Shade Books, Subterranean Press...

Quite simply this book is stunning. The stories are gritty, in your face affairs. Instead of relying on gore and cliche Schow attacks the reader with believable extreme characters. So is there gore? Hell yes, and done better than ever before! Are there cliches? You bet, and all of them are turned on their heads. The best horror writer since Lovecraft.

"Short stories are the shadow warriors of prose." This is a quote from David Schow's afterword of BLACK LEATHER REQUIRED. He backs those words up with some powerful writing in this, his third collection of shorts. Schow uses every color and tone on his palette. Subtley scratching with fine lines and slam dunking you with broad strokes. Dispicable though deviously enjoyable characters, vivid settings, and roller coaster plots. All written with a sure hand and humorous eye for detail. His writing is so unique that he can horrify and touch you in the same sentence. B.L.R. celebrates short horror at its highest.

I will not kid you. Schow's fiction is real; it is brutal; and it often offends (especially those who recognize themselves in his characters). But like Bunuel's classic short film "Un Chien Andalou", Schow also uses his graphically brutal scenes to shock our deadened senses in order to allow us to honestly assess the problems of a post-industrial, post-modern America. Schow challenges our ambigous morals and a culture that voraciously consumes sanitized pre-packaged violence. But most importantly of all he writes ENTERTAINING stories. This collection is a must

David Schow first came to my attention when I read Jerry's Kids Meet Wormboy. One of the funniest, shocking, openings I have ever read. This collection shows just a little portion of the talent that Schow has for making you think. He is one of the few that can take a bad pun and make it outstanding without stretching the boundries of believability. He is an outstanding writer that catches the nuances and foibles of the english language and uses them to his advantage. His sentences have a meter and rhyme that catches you up and pulls you in. (Read Bad Guy Hats, for proof.) Overall, Schow is a much better writer than his image would lead you to believe. Being the "Father of Splatterpunk" has mis-aligned him with the public and critics alike. I recommend Schow whole heartedly to everyone.

Most of the vampire books I read in my everyday life are not suitable for children(books by Ann Rice etc).
But this book which I read a long time ago,when I was younger (probably early teens),is one of the first vampire books I have every read.And it truly is a masterpiece.It more or less introduced me to the general idea of vampires.It is not too long or boring but just right for the young mind.The plot is simple and not at all disappointing.
It revolves around two vampire in the woods who are hiding from their creator.
A boy(I can't remember his name,sorry),accidently finds them both while they slep in coffins.
Soon one of the vampire wants to be his friend and the other wants to kill him.
In this story Jill Morgan shows how this boy becomes caught up in the lives of two vampires.And also as the story takes its course a shocking truth emerges,one which envelopes the characters and the reader in one world.
For a thin(short) book there is alot of information hidden in these beautiful pages.
The cover of this book shows(what I assume to be)the two vampires in the woods.(the brothers)
These vampires is(I think) the basis of the book's name,"Blood Brothers"...
I strongly recommend this book,as a starter vampire book.Especially for beginners.
After reading this book I suggest you go on to Christopher pike's "The Last Vampire" series.......which is outstanding...And if you are maybe a teenager or older you might want to try Bram Stoker's "Dracula",which is excellent.
For the mature minds,There is Anne Rice's,"The Vampire Chronicles"....

Enjoy..............This review was written by Nigel.

One year ago, a powerful vampire named Valdier attacked a family that was harboring his old Druid enemy, Joseph Kellum, aka the Old Celt. Valdier killed the parents of the household and made two of the three children into vampires: Dillon and Xander Adler. Out of guilt, the Old Celt and his family "adopted" the children and moved far away from Valdier. They came to Pennsylvania where the story begins.

Tucker Burton is the 12-year-old protagonist in "Blood Brothers". He's captivated by the Irish Gypsies that have come to work on his family's farm. The day that he sees shy, timid Lilly, Tucker follows her and the Kellums home, which happens to be in the Scavengers' Woods, a very dangerous and eerie place. He then witnesses something that is completely unbelievable--the Kellums produce two coffins that are inhabited by twin vampires, Dillon and Xander. One of them (Xander) is nearing his vampire state, while the other (Dillon) struggles to delay the inevitable. With the help of Tucker, the Kellums plan to protect the twin vampire brothers from ever being discovered by humans, or worse--Valdier.

"Blood Brothers" is one of the few vampire books for kids that is really exciting to read whether you're a child or not. Many of the vampire myths are the same in the book--sunshine will burn a vampire's skin, they sleep in coffins during the day, etc.--, but Jill Morgan adds some interesting twists, such as a time lapse between being bitten by a vampire and finally entering vampiredom, and the ability to shapeshift into a wolf or vanish into air.

Since I really enjoy vampire stories, I can't help but praise this book. The reading level is for 8 to 12-year-olds, but I would still encourage older readers who share my interest to pick this one up. It's well worth your time.

I loved this book. It intranced me and frightened me all at the same time. I couldn't stop reading it. This book keeps you on the edge of your seat. I recommend this book to anybody who likes vampires, suspense, or adventure. It will change the way you think of vampires FOREVER! But remember only read this book if you dare.

This book was fabulous, it feels like you're right there in the story and it gives you such an intense feeling. For example when Tucker was watching those two vampires come out of there coffin, now that was intense. I would definitely recommend this book for any age group over 10 years of age.

This book is a must read for any true horror fan. Its by far one of the best books ive ever read, A true page turner from start to finish.

This is not my kind of reading,it was very graphic, but it was a very good book. It held my attention from beginning to end. At the end of the book I wanted to know what happen to the people in the book. I was amazed that I finished it. The writer has a gift I hope he continues to pursue his writing, and in the future I hope to read something less graphic.

Wow, what a read!! My mind is still reeling from the wonderfully sadistic and twisted plot. The Author brings to life the darker side of obsession/love and all the other quaint emotions we wee humans experience in our pathetic struggles for happiness.

Wow, what a read!! The author portrays a full range of emotions and makes the characters feel as if you know them personally. You will experience their gains and losses as if you were one of them. The book will keep you on the edge till the very last page. I personally had to put it down and take a break from it in order to regroup my ravished senses. A must read for any Steven King fan or any one that is attracted to the darker side of reality.

Blood Origins kept me completely entranced from cover to cover. It is a different take on the origins of vampires. All the characters are well written and come to life with every word. A story of discovery and love, a wonderful read and highly reccomended.

T. Isilwath has spent years honing her skills as a writer and Blood Origins is the result. A unique take on the often cliched idea of vampirism, Blood Origins rethinks the mythologies that so many of us have taken for granted and sets them on their ear. The result is a refreshing look at vampires and the world around us. This book is easily ten times better than Chris Rice's hilariously bad so-called novel Density of Souls and is certainly better than anything Anne Rice herself is writing these days. I truly recommend giving Blood Origins a try!

Blood Origins is a delightful book to read. Each chapter is more exciting than the last. The characters are vividly described.

Blood Origins tells the tale of the origins of vampires - and its far different then anyone would have imagined. Isilwath continues in the tradition of Anne Rice - beautiful, sensual, "human" vampires - but she takes it much further. She explores vampires and religion in a very unexpected way. The heroes of her story are not the evil monsters of Dracula, they are not portrayed as abominations, but as part of nature itself. This is a tale of a few vampires and their discovery of their origins - but more importantly who they are. The characterization in this novel is wonderful. The vampires and even the goddesses and gods come alive. The author gives you just enough history of each character so that you understand them, their motivations, and their fears. The characters of Tobias, Rain and Sky are especially memorable. The story is, for the most part, well paced. The plot is good, makes sense, and is believable. Isilwath's world is one of the most exciting I have seen in awhile, and I hope she will write future books in this world. Any vampire fan would enjoy this book, and I highly recommend it. I have already read it twice!