Horror Books

This is a pretty good purchase if you want to get mostly up to speed on 'The Darkness' comic. There are gaps here and there, such as events that occur in Witchblade and the Darkness/Batman crossover, but you get the meat of the story overall.

A great buy for Darkness fans. Though it took two weeks just to ship and the sender didnt bother wraping it in any kind of plastic to protect it during shipping so my copy has a few minor rips in the spin. Other then that great condition and a great read.

The Compendium allows you to catch-up on the history of The Darkness with the first 40 issues. Please note, it is missing a few of the cross-over issues like Witchblade #18 & #19, but it tells you which ones so you can get them later if you like. For the price and free shipping, you can't beat it! Warning: this book is fatter and heavier than some dictionaries with its 1280 pages, but so well worth the hand cramps it may cause in holding it. Not for children! After reading this, I recommend getting the Witchblade Compendium #1, as it will tie up a few of the lose ends you get when reading this. Enjoy!!!

I thought that the book was very captivating and over whelming in gory details. I also was taken on a magic roller coaster ride........of emotion. Super awesome until towards end when the new artist and writer took over and f*&%ed it in the @$$.

This is a great collection and my criticism must not be allowed to distract from this. I had not read The Darkness before, having returned to comics after a ten year absence and ordered the compendium on reputation and reveiws alone. The service was great, I was delivered in South Africa on time in pristine condition.

It's hard to comment on this publication without referring to its size. It is huge. While this is a good thing, it is not without its drawbacks. The compendium cannot be read as I would a standard graphic novel in that a degree of discipline is needed. I found myself racing through it missing the artwork and the natural pace a comic has by nature of its original monthly format. While the standard comic can be frustratingly short, nine or ten bound together is a great afternoon's read, taking time to savour each panel. Over 1200 pages is a bit indigestable and I would have perhaps preffered to buy a series of smaller collections to make up the whole. Text close to the spine is difficult to get to without risking the spine and it's not something that would be easily shared with a friend, being a bit unweildy to lend out or have someone help themselves to over a coffee (unless they are a comic enthusiast).

Having said all of this there is still something nice about it being ridiculously huge.

While I am particularly "non-religious", I do find myself questioning the content at times (as enjoyable as it might be). There is a point or two where I was struck than a line was being pushed, such as the offhand killing of an inocent person because its all our hero could come up with on short notice to save himself or the ham-fisted religious references in the Magdelina editions. This is obviously a discomfort I have with the genre itself. Violent dark action/humour would perhaps be less enjoyable if it didn't push the boundry of moral offensiveness. Potential purchasers should know that this one does so more than most and is certainly not for kids.

I am however splitting hairs on what is an excellent collection; the artwork is fantastic, and the humour dark. In my opinion it is the best of the genre.

What could be more horrifying than to have the psychic ability that forces you to witness the events in other people's lives but not be able to find your own son after he is kidnapped? With an intense plot and vivid detailed writing, Rick R. Reed has crafted a compelling, fast-paced thriller that would haunt any parent's nightmares.


www.AllTheseBooks.com

Reviewed by Tyler R. Tichelaar for Reader Views (2/08)

Rick R. Reed's new novel "Deadly Vision" is another page-turner from this masterly horror writer. The novel opens with Cass, a single mother, who also happens to be a lesbian, simply trying to make a life for herself and her son by working as a waitress in a diner. One day, she gets hit on the head by a tree branch during a storm, and when she wakes up, she begins to see strange visions, which she realizes are related to the recent cases of missing girls within the community. Cass is reluctant to be in the public light, but she knows she must use her knowledge to save lives. She has a difficult time trying to get help from the authorities and media, but eventually, she convinces them and one of the girls' bodies is found. When Cass's name appears in the paper for having helped the media find the missing girl's body, the killer decides he must stop Cass from revealing more. His revenge leads to an exciting showdown.

Unlike many horror, thriller and detective novelists who center the plot around a detective character searching for an unknown killer, Reed eliminates the mystery behind who the murderer is, and instead depicts the killer in alternate chapters. Reed did an exceptional job in his previous novel "IM" of getting into the killer's mind, and by doing so, while the mystery is absent, the excitement and adrenaline flow all the more. In "Deadly Vision" Reed writes in third person, so we do not understand as well what causes the villain, Ian, to act as he does; instead we view the action from the eyes of Ian's girlfriend, Myra. Ian is obviously crazy, talking about how he must sacrifice people to The Beast, yet Reed fully makes the reader understand why Myra remains with Ian for so long, first because he is gorgeous, secondly because he taught her how to lose weight and make herself attractive, and finally out of confused loyalty and eventually fear of Ian. Myra is forced into the role of accomplice to Ian while she continually tries to manipulate him to stop the crimes, and yet helps him out of fear. I personally thought Myra the most developed and interesting character in the novel.

Reed's characters are often homosexual, and in past books his characters' sexual orientation has added to the novels' plots. However, while the back cover includes Lesbian with Fiction/Mystery/Thriller as one of its genres, I didn't see any reason why Cass or Dani, her reporter friend, were depicted as lesbians. It was clear they were going to become a couple, but their sexual orientation was not detailed enough to advance the plot or motivate their actions, unlike the detective in "IM" who is himself homosexual and seeking to save his male lover from a killer bent on murdering gay men.

I would gladly welcome a sequel to "Deadly Vision" where Reed further develops the relationship between Dani and Cass so their sexual orientations are more integrated into the plot. The two women make a great team, and I can definitely see possibilities for further adventures as Cass learns better how to use her psychic abilities. I would also like to know more about what became of Myra. I hope another Rick R. Reed book will soon roll off the presses.

Cass D'Angelo lives a regular life in small town, Ohio, with her seven-year-old son, Max. She works at a popular diner and has little unusual going on in her life except, initially, the lack of a girlfriend. Her whole life changes, however, after being struck on the head during a storm. When she wakes up in the hospital, she discovers that she's acquired psychic powers, specifically the ability to visualize the grisly deaths of local girls who have recently begun disappearing.

The killers are an insane, but handsome, psychopath and his smitten and spectacularly confused girlfriend. We find out very quickly that they worship a devil-like entity, "The Beast," and when they discover that Cass has directed the police to unearth one of their victims, they go after her and her family.

Like Charlaine Harris's Harper Connelly character, Cass D'Angelo is a psychic character who's fascinating to read about. She's thoughtful, smart, and capable. Unlike Harris's character, who travels around to use her gift, Cass is mostly happy and settled in her Ohio home and committed to family, friends, and her community. That makes her deadly visions and horror over the sick murders even more palpable. Everyone is at risk, even her own son.

Reed gives us alternate chapters from the perspective of the twisted killer's girlfriend and of our increasingly-stressed heroine. His secondary characters, particularly Cass's mother and Cass's journalist girlfriend, are lively, interesting, and essential. His use of tone, pacing, and atmosphere is masterful. A natural born storyteller, this author does an excellent job showing Cass's increasing panic in the face of the killers' single-minded murderous intent. With every page, the reader's tension level rises until the wild climax. At times graphic, always descriptive, and endlessly suspenseful, this novel takes you on a rocky ride through horror and anxiety. Will the killers be thwarted? Will Cass live to see another vision? Will she lose the one she loves the most?

Highly recommended for all who enjoy heart-pounding suspense, horror, and good old-fashioned fright within an expertly constructed narrative. ~Lori L. Lake, Midwest Book Review

Hot on the heels of his enjoyable gay serial killer novel - last year's "IM" - Rick Reed returns with another gripping thriller, "Deadly Vision." Reed is quickly developing his own unique formula that blends suspense, fast-moving narratives, fully-realized gay characters, and a touch of the occult. His seeming bid to become a gay hybrid of James Patterson and Dean Koontz will not be lost on readers with this latest offering.

Cass D'Angelo, single mother to seven-year-old Max, is toiling away as a waitress in a small, depressed river town in Ohio. When Cass goes off after Max when he wanders off one afternoon during a thunderstorm, she runs afoul of a lightning strike and a falling tree limb. She awakens days later in the hospital - relieved to find Max safe - and discovers that the resulting concussion has left her with a newfound psychic ability. Before you can say Psychic Friends Network, Cass receives disturbing images of several local girls gone missing - their grisly fates playing out behind her mind's eye. Fearing more deaths, the reluctant psychic reaches out to the police and to one of the missing girl's parents - all of whom are skeptical. But when the father of a second missing girl begs Cass' help in finding his daughter and her decomposing body is found along the Ohio River banks, Cass finds herself the center of unwanted attention from a pair of devil-worshipping killers desperate to find out how she found their carefully hidden grave. It's here that the story kicks into even higher gear with a kidnapping, a manhunt, and - to a lesser extent - hints of a budding romance with a sympathetic female journalist.

As in "IM," Reed again opts to tell his story through multiple points of view. And, again, it works surprisingly well even when minor characters like Cass' mother get their chance at the storytelling bat. Laying out the actions and motives of your villains for readers is a tricky proposition - give too much and risk predictability at the expense of the suspense. But Reed expertly walks the tightrope between disclosure and omission, crafting passages told from the killers' perspective that are appropriately chilling and give just enough away to readers so that their acquired insight translates into dread when the action switches back to Cass and company. It's foreboding at it s finest with readers left muttering, "If you only knew what I know" at the book itself.

Reed also imbues "Deadly Vision" with a strong sense of setting, creating in Summitville a bleak tableau of working class hardship. One gets a strong sense of inevitability for the fictional denizens of the town, like they surrendered master status of their own destinies somewhere between unplanned pregnancies and factory closings. He nails the idea of familiarity and disconnection as analogous functions of small-town life:

"When Sheryl McKenna's mother opened the door, Cass felt as though she had already seen her. And maybe she had. Summitville was, after all, a small town. She could have passed the tired-looking woman on the street downtown, or served her in the diner. The woman stared at her with bright gray eyes, looking her over as if Cass were something she had discarded in the yard that had managed to make its way back to the porch. Mrs. McKenna was small, with no fat on her bones; she looked almost skeletal. Her skin was weathered, the result of too much sun, too much smoke. Her skin, combined with straw-like bleached blonde hair and hard eyes made her, Cass was sure, look older than her years. She held a cigarette in her hand, and the smell of tobacco smoke came out of the house in a wave when she opened the door."

Unlike "IM," the lesbian romance is relegated to the background here, never even a glimmer of possibility until the third act - and even then it's only alluded to in a near future. This is the novel's only misstep - and a slight one at that - and an area where Reed missed an opportunity for deeper emotional investment in the reporter character of Dani Westwood. The lack of romantic connection to Cass keeps her at arm's length for much of the action, consigning her to stock character status.

The novel's supernatural elements are handled quite well, with Cass' understanding of her precognitive abilities evolving gradually over the course of the book and never coming off as forced or over-the-top. Only toward the end when Cass encounters the spectral vision of one of the victims does one get the sense that they're smack dab in the middle of an episode of "Cold Case" or "The Ghost Whisperer" - and that's either criticism or commendation depending upon your level of tolerance for either of those shows.

The literary equivalent of a hybrid vehicle, "Deadly Vision" powers forward on a combustion of supernatural suspense, murder mystery, and breakneck thriller. With psychics and serial killers rendered with the same deft hand in a propulsive narrative likely to increase respirations, it takes no psychic ability to see that Rick Reed is headed for the top of the suspense class.

Ready for yet another roller coaster ride from one of the most entertaining authors around? BUY THIS BOOK!! It's a heck of a ride.
Enter the world of small town America... a place where life is pretty quiet. Well, usually.

You'll become entrenched in the drama in this well written, taught thriller. At times you'll laugh, cringe, sigh with relief and at times your breath will catch in your throat. Mr. Reed knows just how to grab his audience... where it counts.

If you've never read any of Mr. Reed's books, this is a great one with which to begin. After this page-turner... you'll be wanting more, much more. And he'll never disappoint you. Mr. Reed is one of the best, freshest authors today. You're going to be hooked.

"Deadly Vision" is a great read! Fast paced and full of characters you not only like but actually care about.

Will the killer be stopped in time? ONly one way for you to find out... click on the "Add To Shopping Cart" button now!! Then go and buy his other books. You'll be very glad you did.

I never knew quite where Engima was going to take me until I was finished with it. At times I was confused -- hell, most of the time I was confused. I worried that it would become too preachy or philosophical to be enjoyable; I worried it would fall into randomness and end without making sense; I worried it would fall victim to awkward stereotypes. It did none of these things.

Enigma is a fantastic story, dark and twisted. The art reflects this well; it may not be the prettiest thing to look at, but it's fitting enough that it shouldn't be a problem for almost anyone once they get into the story.

The characters begin simply, and through the events of the story grow three-dimensional so that you can't help but care for them. The villains are twisted and fantastic: Envelope Girl especially is a favorite of mine, though she overall isn't entirely important as a character.

Michael is a twenty-something nobody whose life continues every week in such a repetitive way that it could only be called obsessive compulsive; he wears his underwear according to the days of the week and only has sex on Tuesdays. His world is shaken when the first villain appears, and soon he realizes that they're from a three-issue comic he loved as a child. Titus is the creator of the comic, an older, gay man who was too stoned while writing it to make sense of it himself, though he's praised as a prophet by a group of youths called the Enigmatics. And there's the Enigma himself, alternately loved and hated by the populace of the city he more or less protects, and properly enigmatic himself. And the narrator -- an omnipresent voice with an all-encompassing knowledge of the story, full of scorn and contempt for those he tells the story and for the characters within, withholding knowledge and becoming, as he does so, a well-developed character himself.

And the ending -- the ending is perfect. You may be unsure of the story all the way until then, but the ending wraps it all together, fits every piece into place without a space between. Fantastic.

I attempted to read Peter Milligan and Duncan Fegredo's ENIGMA series back in 1993 and gave up about halfway through it, seeing it as an indulgent mess that would leave me with no explanations as to what was going on. When the trade was released in 1995, I read the whole thing and was annoyed that a story with so many angles would seemingly just boil down to an issue of the main character's sexuality. Forward to 2007: I pick up the trade during a rebirth of my interest in Vertigo books, read it in one day, and am amazed. I finally got it. Yes, ENIGMA does place a heavy emphasis on sexual preference, but it's so much more.

Michael Smith's routine life is shattered by the arrival of the Enigma, a superhero from his childhood. Battling such bizarre foes as the Head, the Truth, Envelope Girl, and the Interior League (my personal favorites, like something from Grant Morrison's Doom Patrol), it is apparent to Michael that the lines between fantasy and reality are blurring, and clues lead him to believe that he is somehow responsible. Michael tracks down the comic's creator, Titus Bird, and the two of them work to reveal the Enigma's identity and how he came to be. In turn, the Enigma helps Michael to discover quite a number of things about himself, but ultimately, this is a story postulating how four-color superheroes could exist in the "real world". Let's face it... if real people had superpowers, they likely wouldn't dress in garish costumes and speak in purple prose, so how could this happen? Your answer is here.

Milligan's story is excellent, now that I finally got my head around it (gee, it only took me 14 years). There's not one boring bit in the entire book, and the narration is excellent, providing just the right amount of "gotcha" at the conclusion. Fegredo's art is spectacular, as always, with every person and object carefully rendered. A perfect team for a perfect book!

I'm an avid reader of both comics and novels, and must say this is definitely one of, if not The best, graphic novels I've read thus far. Although the artwork is a bit scratchy, it quickly fits in with the mood of the story and even adds to the effect. The story itself deals with many interesting psychological and personal topics including homosexuality, responsibility, disillusionment, and the frailty of the human mind. The characters each have their own quirky, unusual backgrounds that will stimulate your brain cells and draw you into the tale, such as the average joe who was tranformed into a mind-devouring monster after a short chat with a dead lizard. And as you can probably tell by now, this book does have its quirks, so be prepared for a truly unique read.

My problem with this comic is that I really could never like this iper realistic drawing style which boast every single line fo people faces so that even those supposed to be very good looking (Enigma himself and the model Victoria Yes) look deformed.
It was a deliberate choice of course, I simply do not share it.

This booklet is self contained and tells us the story of an average straight boy leading a very average life meeting the -male- hero from the comics he used to read as a child.
The idea fo a comic about a comic is not bad and brings forth some fairly interesting issues: identity, sexual identity, children mistreatment, etc.
I was not overwhelmed by enthusiasm but other people might be.

A lot of gore and some topics (nudity and mild gay sex among them) make this booklet unsuitable for minors.

Brilliant comic with a great twist at the end. Very underated from Vertigo's early days. Offbeat characters like Envelope Girl and Titus Bird bring this book to life paying homage to 70's whacked out comics world. Enjoy! and then what?

This book is a fantastic read, I recommend it to anyone over 12. The heartwrenching tale of betrayal and sadness will surely move you. If you read this book I guarantee you will want more. Who could stop at one Virginia Andrews book? I think this is the best volume in the series. The characters are true to life, the plot is intense and realistic. This novel is a must for the personal library of any avid drama reader. The reason I gave it only 4 stars is because, although it's a great story, I think it's really too dark and sad for regular reading. I have a copy and I have read it twice since I got it, which was about three years ago. I don't think it's the type of book you can read over and over again without depressing the hell out of yourself. Still, read it, even if you only read it once.

I COULD'NT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN FOR TOO LONG .THE CHARACTERS WERE ALL I COULD THINK ABOUT FOR WEEKS AFTER I FINISHED READING THE BOOK. HOW COULD A FAMILY EXPERIENCE SO MUCH LOVE, HATE, GREED AND BETRAYAL?THE WAY THEY DO WILL AMAZE YOU. I CAN'T WAIT TO READ THE REST OF VIRGINIA'S BOOK, AS SOON AS I CAN GET MY HANDS ON THEM.

A story of a widowed mother of 4 young children who takes her family to her own very wealthy mothers house to live until she can get a job and support herself and children. A number of years before, she fell in love with her cousin and her father said that if they were to ever get married he'd write her off of his will, and if they were to bare children, he would never ever forgive her. She did marry him, and she was written out of his will. However he did not discover that they had children, but the evil and cruel mother did. So, the children live upstairs in the attic, where their grandmother brings them food everyday, until hopefully their mother can be forgiven by her father, and be written back onto the will. However, the few days that are supposed to be taken to get written back on the will, turn into years and the children are eventually forgotten. They escape after 4 years of being locked up.

Reading novels have never been my passion,but after a friend told me the story behind this book, i couldn't hesitate but got a copy for myself.I couldn't put it down until i was done with it,which ofcourse took me the whole day.This novel is so touching and so real.I had to buy the other series that follows,only to miss Petals in the wind which i am still hunting for right now.I really recommend it for anyone.Varginia Andrews,yr books are my favorite,i really love yr writing style.

LO mejor que he leido.Triste ver como una madre deja de amar a sus hijos para amar el dinero.Mentir para lograr ser dueña de la herencia de su padre a tal extremo de abandonar sus hijos a la obscuridad del atico.Robarle años de vida a sus hijos para lograr riquezas.Sumamente interesante no podria soltar el libro y estoy loca por saber como sus hijos logran vengarse despues de haber escapado las garras de su madre y abuela.No duele tanto el maltrato fisico como el maltrato mental que sufrian estos 4 hermanos.No puede dejar de leerlo,lo mejor de lo mejor.

My cousin loaned me this book when I was very young; however, I was unable to finish it before she needed it back. Finally, fourteen years later, I reread it. I am already a huge fan of Richard Peck and very familiar with the stories of the marvelous Blossom Culp--this book was just more proof how amazing an author Richard Peck is.

The setting is 1913, a small little town with not much going for it. Until one day, Alexander sees a ghost in his barn.

What follows is a delicious blend of a spooky story, a tale of small town life, and a comedy of epic proportions. Richard Peck is true to the classic ghost story feel, but his love for small town life is apparent.

The book is smartly written to portray the mind of a 13-year old boy, and the most minor of characters are made fascinating and quirky. Neither does Richard Peck play this book safe--it has its share of hells and damns and gruesome little details. Then again, it's all part of the charm.

Great Halloween book.

I'm 37 yrs old and just recently rediscoverd this book at a used book store...I first read it when I was 12 and the movie too....The Child of Glass from Disney. I have to say it's one of the best from my childhood and enjoyed reading it again as a grown woman. I recommend it to all ages.

If you are, this book is one of your best guides. I loved this story as a child, particularly as I was a child who saw spirits. As an adult who works with spirits and those in form, I recommend this book to my clients who see spirits and want to learn how to respond to them compassionately. It is indeed a children's book with lessons from which everyone can learn.

I really enjoyed this book, it's really a four and a half stars. I had read some of the other Blossom Culp books first, and enjoyed having Alexander as the narrator, although I think I prefer Blossom. I loved the setting. This was a funny, exiting, and somwhat spooky book. I recommend it to pratically anyone.

Blossom Culpýs mother was born with a caul over her face, meaning she has the second sight. She sees a pink halo over Alexander Armsworthýs barn and confides in her daughter that Alexander has the ability to help the spirit trapped there.

Blossom was known was making up stories, still out of curiosity, Alexander explores the barn and finds a hurt little dog. That night he sees candlelight in the barn. The dog turns up missing the next day. Convinced that Blossom is playing a trick on him, he drags the frightened protesting young girl up to the loft with him and sees the first signs of the ghost wet footprints.

Inez Dumaineýs wealthy New Orleans family put her on a steamboat and sent her north on the eve of the Civil War. The steamboat had an accident and Inez drown. Afterward, her body was robbed of her familyýs wealth, which had been sewn into her dress. Her fervent wish is to be buried properly with her family.

Peckýs characters are vivid, the kind the reader cares about from the first chapter onward. His combination of humor and suspense really propel the story forward. An excellent story!

I too read this as a young child - maybe 8 or so. We've just moved into a new home and I KNOW I have this book in one of our boxes, but I haven't found it yet. My son, age 9, was asking me for a really spooky book to read - he thinks Goosebumps books are highly overrated. The first thing I thought of was, "It's time. It's time to get out The Ghost Next Door."

I remember this book as very clever and spooky - and also quite melancholy. Wonderful, magical writing - perfect for the child who wants a more frightful tale - without adding gore to the mix.

This story is great - but it is so hard to find now.

this is one of those books I found while searching for something different at the library. It was a page turner in my youth and an old favorite now. This is definitely a great read for young readers looking for intrigue and mystery. I can still picture images from the book and the movie. It's definitely on my children's list of books to read when they get older.

I think I was 12 when I first read this book and I have never forgotten it. I tried to find it for years and I was so happy when I finally found a copy online! The cover was different from the one I remember as a kid (it was a ghostly image of Miranda's face dominating the oover). The book I received shows the haunting Miranda in a white dress. Wonderful cover just the same. Like the two heroines in the book I too could also not wait to find out how the green owl got 'love in it's eyes'.

Simply enchanting. :)

I adored this book when I was in my pre-teens. I still have my old paperback copy - it's very battered from being read so many times! This is a wonderful and scary ghost story with lots of unique and spooky details. It would be great to see it back in publication today. The setting of the book feels removed from the "real world" and timeless, so there is very little that would date it - just a few things like the girls playing records. If you like this kind of book or have kids who like spooky books (and you want to introduce them to something much better than the "Goosebumps" variety) pick up a second-hand copy of this book and enjoy!

Ok, I will be honest, I don't remember a lot about this book. I am 32 now and read this book around 6th grade, (I remember our house then).

ALL I REMEMBER about the book was it was spooky which I loved, the girl's name was Miranda, which I also loved, and there was an OWL WITH LOVE IN ITS EYES. :) I also remember something about them finding notes. I remember when I finished the book, I actually wrote some sort of note and stuck it deep inside my mother's antique chest of drawers hoping someone would find it one day and know a little bit about me. ha ha! Now if I could find THAT!

I had been reminiscing about books I remember as a child and just looked at the "Sweet Pickles" series of books, which I loved. Then I remembered and searched for "The House with a Clock in its Walls," (found it because the subject was the title), which my 2nd or 3rd grade teacher read aloud to us. Then I vaguely remembered this one, but had no idea of the title. I even mentioned it to the librarian last time I was at the library in hopes she would be familiar with it. I did a search and this site came up: http://www.loganberrybooks.com/solved-g.html
What a treat to find one of the books I enjoyed so much 20 years ago! I can't wait to order this and other books that I read back then.

You owe it to the young reader in your life (or in your heart!) to give this one a try. From the site I found it on, it was well remembered by lots of readers!!

For years Zac has visited the Other Place, visiting medieval fortresses, Avalon, Sherwood Forrest and anywhere else his imagination takes him. Normally he snaps right out of what he calls "Hamlet Dreams" when he hears the sound of an alarm, an ambulance passing, or when he feels a light touch. Since he started dating Cecile, Zac has not visited the Other Place as frequently. When he does visit, Zac finds it increasingly difficult to rouse from the dreams; it is as if something holds him there.

For six months Zac and Cecile have dated. While they have come close to consummating their relationship, Cecile always withdraws before they can. Nightmares of a vicious attack prevent Cecile from relaxing enough to make love with Zac, regardless of how tenderly he holds her. Her roommate suggests their mutual virginity may be part of the problem, but Cecile does not agree. Moreover, someone knows of their difficulties, turning their challenges into an opportunity to release evil into the world.

On the first day of a new semester of teaching, Cecile discovers a mysterious note that states: "I have not forgotten you." She reads a hint of hidden menace into the words, fearful her stepfather has returned to stalk her in retribution for his jailing. Eventually, she discovers Zac slumbering so deeply that she cannot wake him; summoning aid, she helps to hospitalize him. But the doctors are baffled and eventually label Zac's case psychiatric. Cecile does not suspect that the force holding Zac captive is not of this world and brings incredible danger to them both.

Author Jennifer Barlow creates a surreal landscape of deceptive danger and lurking menace in HAMLET DREAMS. Both Zac and Cecile love each other deeply but are young and naïve, making them easy to prey to the malevolent forces that seek to manipulate them with their own fears. As Zac travels the labyrinth of his own psyche, he must confront the dark fantasies and hidden desires that even he has never acknowledged. Traversing a landscape constructed of fear and impossibility, Barlow leads the reader through a stunning tale of delicious malevolence and dangerous desire. No reader will want to miss this unusual and compelling novel. HAMLET DREAMS earns the WordWeaving Award for Excellence.

An excellent book for anyone willing to look at the darksides of ourselves we don't like to admit to.

Have you ever been afraid of your own depths, of your past, of what you might be capable of in extremis? So are Barlow's characters. What a harrowing motif, to be almost as afraid of yourself as you are of the bad guys... I love books that don't readily fit into well defined classifications, and this psychologically sophisticated page-turner gracefully walks the line between dark fantasy and fantasy. An original concept, lucid prose, great pacing, a fine stylist. I hope to read more from Barlow soon.

In North Carolina, Zac knows he is the poster boy for the stereotypical boring nerd. However, when he dreams of "The Other Place", he fantasizes that he is Hamlet, frequent visitant to Avalon, Lilliput, and Sherwood Forest among other locales. In his reverie realm, Zac as Hamlet is the master of all he perceives.

Recently Zac has changed since he fell in love with Cecile. He no longer seeks escape from the mundane or the ugly. He no longer needs The Other Place as Cecile now provides him with solace. However, Carcajou, the real ruler of The Other Place, refuses to free Zac and even tries to come to North Caroline through his host's dreams. Carcajou even forces Zac into sleep whenever he desires to do so. Zac, as he has recently done many times before, turns to his beloved Cecile for help, but though she loves him, she has her own demons to contend with.

HAMLET'S DREAMS is an exciting tale that can be interpreted on two distinct levels as either a taut fantasy thriller or a deep psychological drama. Either way, the impressive vividly written story line takes the reader on a journey to another plane controlled by an outside force or perhaps the realm of the hero's subconscious controlled by his mind. The lead couple is weak individuals unable to stand up for their values including their love yet battle they must. Zac and Cecile's lack of courage even when danger confronts them as both need encouraging external catalysts to act. This adds depth to a scary surrealistic story line that leaves readers metaphysically pondering whether the demon is inside or outside man?

Harriet Klausner

For years Zac has visited the Other Place, visiting medieval fortresses, Avalon, Sherwood Forrest and anywhere else his imagination takes him. Normally he snaps right out of what he calls "Hamlet Dreams" when he hears the sound of an alarm, an ambulance passing, or when he feels a light touch. Since he started dating Cecile, Zac has not visited the Other Place as frequently. When he does visit, Zac finds it increasingly difficult to rouse from the dreams; it is as if something holds him there.

For six months Zac and Cecile have dated. While they have come close to consummating their relationship, Cecile always withdraws before they can. Nightmares of a vicious attack prevent Cecile from relaxing enough to make love with Zac, regardless of how tenderly he holds her. Her roommate suggests their mutual virginity may be part of the problem, but Cecile does not agree. Moreover, someone knows of their difficulties, turning their challenges into an opportunity to release evil into the world.

On the first day of a new semester of teaching, Cecile discovers a mysterious note that states: "I have not forgotten you." She reads a hint of hidden menace into the words, fearful her stepfather has returned to stalk her in retribution for his jailing. Eventually, she discovers Zac slumbering so deeply that she cannot wake him; summoning aid, she helps to hospitalize him. But the doctors are baffled and eventually label Zac's case psychiatric. Cecile does not suspect that the force holding Zac captive is not of this world and brings incredible danger to them both.

Author Jennifer Barlow creates a surreal landscape of deceptive danger and lurking menace in HAMLET DREAMS. Both Zac and Cecile love each other deeply but are young and naïve, making them easy to prey to the malevolent forces that seek to manipulate them with their own fears. As Zac travels the labyrinth of his own psyche, he must confront the dark fantasies and hidden desires that even he has never acknowledged. Traversing a landscape constructed of fear and impossibility, Barlow leads the reader through a stunning tale of delicious malevolence and dangerous desire. No reader will want to miss this unusual and compelling novel. HAMLET DREAMS earns the WordWeaving Award for Excellence.

This is an incredible book, I really enjoy the quality of the art work, and the way it came in hard cover. thank you.

I'll keep this simple and short. The story captivated me and keeps me interested, if you are expecting it to match the movie, it doesn't, it's better!!!

As for the construction of the physical book; I think it's well made. I personally like the feel the fabric outer covering, the only downside I've found is how my dogs' hairs stick to the cover. It's not a big deal thou they come off easy.

The 2 Hellboy story arcs this volume contains are classics. The introductions are impressive and enjoyable, especially if you're already a fan of the series. If you ARE a fan, these are a great addition (or replacement, if your trade paperback bindings have gone rotten) to your comic collection.

This "Library Edition" series features a soft cover and glorious blown up art from the originals. It's like comics in Hi-Def and I love it. You have literally never seen Hellboy look this good. These volumes give the impression of an epic tome, holding wonders unceasing within, which is appropriate.

Fantastic content, terricic packaging.

The cloth cover could be a dust catcher (I'll never know).

Just buy the 2.5 gallon Ziploc / Gladlock bags and you will have no problem.
Just treat it like a large 33 dollar sandwich.

Or go down to any Fedex, DHL, UPS, Post Office and pick up a large plastic mailer (non padded) their free (but the Ziploc bags you can see through)

Hellboy art is nicer blow up to larger than comic size. Also in Vol 1 has two story arcks and his first two short storys (one shots) in it.

All in all a great buy.

I really enjoy the movie so i thought i'd give this a read, despite never reading a comic before in my life other than a few glances. not to offend, but really found them to be ridiculous, childish material. that was, before i read this.. THIS has opened my eyes to a whole new world. wow, just wow. this has definitely made me see that i have been way to quick to judge this medium, and that is my fault that will be corrected.

anyhow, i really loved this read and found myself not being able to stop turning pages. completely engrossing on every level, visual and story wise. everyone else has said it much better than i ever could, so I just leave you with my huge thumbs up!

As a fledgling horror writer, I'm trying to digest some bits and pieces from masters of the genre. Consider this review more of a discussion of what I liked in the book. Like I said, I'm a fledgling writer myself, and once you start creating something, you realize how much easier it is to criticize than create--so I'm trying to keep it on the positive.

I enjoyed much of High Cotton. Personal highlights include "Mister Weed-Eater", "The Night They Missed the Horror Show", "Incident on and Off a Mountain Road", and my favorite, "Steppin' Out, Summer, '68". Each of these tales forced my hand, made me keep turning those pages to see what bizzare sight waited around the corner. Each contained just the right mix of black humor for my taste.

In this mix of 21 tales, the reader really gains a respect for Lansdale's style of storytelling. He is from East Texas, and you hear the voice throughout, even when the story might be a bit wide of the darkly humorous horror for which he's known. A warning to the squeamish: this book will offend your senses and offers enough racial ephitats to make political correctness roll around in it's grave.

Lansdale knows how to entertain, and when he's on his game, he's among the best.

I bought this book because I wanted to read the original story from which a first season episode of Showtime's "Masters of Horror" was built around. The episode was "Incident On and Off a Mountain Road", and both the television adaptation and- I was happy to learn when I received "High Cotton" from Amazon- the original Lansdale story are top notch. In fact, the TV show was excellent largely due to its sticking extremely close to the Lansdale original.

Happily, there are many other great stories in this collection other than "Incident". As other reviewers have pointed out here, the stories range from darkly humorous to dark & gritty, the dark & gritty ones being my favorites. There are also a few good stories of the ironic and darkly poetic variety, where some poor schmuck gets an undeserved ton of bricks dropped on his life for no other reason than fate sometimes does that (I'm thinking mostly of the story involving the guy who tries to help the seemingly pathetic blind groundskeeper). The outright "funny" stories, like the one about Godzilla being in the twelve-step program (he wants to stop stomping on tourists), and the story about the inflatable dinosaur who wanted to visit Disneyland so he could meet Mickey Mouse, are also okay, but less memorable than the dark & gritty stories, which usually involve hapless characters taking a wrong turn somewhere and in short order finding themselves in the midst of one form or another of earthly hell.

Sensitive readers should note that there are many instances of racist humor, and many racist observations, throughout the book, as this or that character spouts something ignorant. In fact, there's so much of it that I started thinking that the author perhaps had a benign view of such things, or maybe even held those views himself. But, no, it ultimately becomes clear that Mr. Lansdale is just trying to accurately show how many people talk and think, and also demonstrate that such thoughts and observations can mean one of several things: that the character in question truly IS racist, or might just be a little ignorant and stupid but not truly bad. I say this because in several instances (especially in the last story), a couple of SEEMING racists meet up (after one of those wrong turns) with a group of true, hateful, monstrous racists, and... well, let's just say Mr. Lansdale makes it clear that there's a difference between dumb, ignorant spoutings and true evil.

With the exception of the occasional inflatable dinosaur and the not-as-friendly-as-it-seems housecat (and even the tales containing those offbeat elements were perfectly engaging), these are intense, dark, memorable stories, and I look forward to experiencing more Joe R. Lansdale in the near future. Just not quite yet. There's some grim stuff here, and I could use a breather.

"High Cotton" is representative of the period when Joe Lansdale was still writing hardcore horror - and no one did it better. The stories in this collection are truly disturbing and graphic, reaching splattery heights without ever straying too far from Joe's East Texas sensibilities. Plenty of sick twists and thinly veiled stabs at racial injustice to keep our more "sophisticated" readers interested. For those of us who like down and dirty country-fried horror, you can't do any better than this collection.

So, "High Cotton" reprints several of Lansdale's personally selected best stories. These stories, all of them except for one are also featured in his original collections "By Bizarre Hands", "Bestsellers Guaranteed", and "Writer of the Purple Rage", and are arguably the best of the stories featured in the original (and out of print) books.

Lansdale's follow-up, "Bumper Crop" collects many of the rest, but not very many stories from "Writer of the Purple Rage." If you can get a copy of "Purple Rage" get it. It has the original "Bubba Ho-Tep" novella, which is one of Lansdale's best stories and was made into the wonderful movie starring Bruce Campbell, which may be one of the most faithful adaptations of a writer's work ever put on film.

Anyway, "Booty and the Beast" is the newest (to me) story in this collection, which centers around a specific item associated with the Virgin Mary that brings doom to those who possess it. It is an entertaining story. The best stories here, however, are the ones his true fans have read before: "The Night They Missed the Horror Show" (his signature story), "The Phone Woman", and "Tight Little Stitches in a Dead Man's Back", "Not From Detroit", and many others. The stories also have introductions by Lansdale telling how they were conceived. There is also an introduction at the front of the book explaining how he came to write short stories and why he deosn't write as many anymore.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading the stories again and I hope this one stays in print for a long time, so that readers don't have to track down out of print collections to see what a fabulous writer this man is. These are the stories that made him famous, using his unique blend of humor, horror, and gritty realism to form a truly effective story. Highly Recommended!

High Cotton by Joe R. Lansdale is the best short story collection I have ever read so far! The stories are funny and will make you laugh aloud -- so don't read this book in public places! Funny story: I was reading this book whilst waiting to board the plane in the airport, and I could not stop laughing! Security guards started to crowd around me -- just because I was acting in a 'peculiar manner' due to the loud laughing... so Joe R. Lansdale, it's your fault people are laughing out loud in public places whilst reading your book! Read this book and you will know what all the fuss is about.

I haven't read this book for a long time so when I read it this time I had forgotten what it was about. After I read it I went back and looked at the things I hadn't seen before.

This was a great book to read, but I have read better. I think that it was really sad, and I wish that Rilo could still be with his family.

This was a great book. A few days ago I was looking in my bookshelf to see if there was something I hadn't read. I found a book that I remembered I had gotten when I was in Kindergarten. The book was titled The Last Buru and I read it and it was awesome. I looked for the website that the address was on the back. And it was gone, I searched for anything in the series and I found out this was the last book the authors had written. I'm glad I had gotten it in Kindergarten so I could read a book out of print, but it really sucks that there isn't a book in the series aftre this. I really wish they could have made more books in this series. Anyway, this is a good book.

I think this a great book! Rilo gets reunited with his family and tries to save them. I hate Preston though, what a traitor. They lose their powers but get them back by Morgan and are stronger than ever! Though I wonder how they look like. I'm still trying to find the fifth book. Whoever is trying to buying this book you should really buy it! Its awesome!!!

This book (not to mention the whole strange forces series) is a masterpiece. There are no other books like theses. This was probably the best book so far. The thing that really gets me is that the authors quit after this book, and the plans that were made for up too book nine. All I could get out of the company is that the authors moved on. I want them to continue writing, I have been hoping all of these years! Maybe I could start a website and a petetion. If your interested,e-mail me and I'll tell you if I start one.