Horror Books

I particularly enjoyed this book. I ended up reading this one after I read the prequel due to a scarcity of the copies of this novella. Very easy to read, grotesque with plenty of dark humor and not quite as vignetty as I had expected it would have been. I'm waiting to see what else there may be to the stories of Susanna, Linda and Trinity. I will be getting the third book when it comes out. :)

Great novella! Easy to read in one sitting...skipped around a lot, but hey, they're vignettes!!!too bad georgiana had to die...

I thought the book was a joke of some kind when I saw the sexy photo of G.L.Giles on the back, but then I started reading it, and I couldn't put it down. I felt so involved in the stories. I agree with the other reviewers. I want more!

Being a practicing pagan, with a major emphasis on Wicca, I thought what you wrote about: "Don't be a Fluffy Bunny Pagan when UR really a Goth who should go Vamp!!!" Very clever. And I liked the relationship between Jameson and Georgiana in V2:B4 (The Vampire Vignettes Prequel)...keep up the good work...I'd like to see a more CSI-technical feel though...you could work on that...I want to read more..UR a tease!!!

hey gl giles...i'm used to books with a lot more description, and i thought maybe you were a little prejudiced when i read about linda in the vampire vignettes, but i just finished V2:B4 and i see that's clearly not the case...you have me wanting more..when is the next book coming out and will there be more of nike?

The book is AWESOME.It's a must have 4 all BtVS fans.It is from Xander's point of view and has his thoughts and feelings about what's going on. It's divided into chapters/sections-here is how it goes starting after the Acknowledgments: Tonight,Part1;Teacher's Pet(6 chapters); Tonight,Part2;Inca Mummy Girl(7 chapters); Tonight,Part3;Bewitched,Bothered,And Bewildered (7 chapters);Tonight,Part4.There are also great pictures in the center of the book.I hope I haved helped you out!

Just like on the TV show Xander delivers scarcasm and humor that only he can do. He tells 3 tales of his strange supernatural romance (Teachers Pet, Inca Mummy Girl, and Bewitched Bothered and Bewildered)and proves that Buffy isn't the only one with a twisted life. I liked reading about Xander becasue he's pretty much the typical male, except a whole lot wittier, and the occasional vampire slaying. I reccomend this to any Buffy the Vampire Slayer and/or Xander fan!

Only recently have I become a buffy fan (but boy, when I fall I fall hard) This was the first buffy book I read, but it was definately worth it! Especially the last story Bewitched Bothered and Bewildered made me laugh so much I have the stiches to prove it. This book made me stop thinking Xander was boring. Definately a must to read for any buffy fan!

In order to understand the entire buffy novels,one needs to understand Xander.This book details probably the most intimate things anyone will be able to get with the character.From his feelings for his best friend Willow to chrush unfulfilled Buffy,dating and romance in Sunnydale is truly humerous.....for Xander it's the most harzardous thing to do. Full of laughs and deep thought,to understand buffy,you need to understand why she does'nt just crumple from the pressure of slaying. Because Xander will always be there...laughing at the world.

This book is a novelization of three episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The first Teacher's Pet is a homage to the big bug movies of the late fifties. Inca Mummy Girl revives the curse of the mummy and Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered explores the magic of love. In each story Xander falls in love with dire consequences. His heart is pure and his intentions good but the results are both frightening and humorous. I recommend this to all Xander fans. It could be a dating manual for the new century.

This is part of a (3?) volume set of corrected Lovecraft texts from Arkham House. Either this, or del rey's "tales of horror and death" is a good way to start if you've never read Lovecraft, although Dunwich Horror primary focuses on one side of his writing (poe-ish) and the other on the dunsday-ish. As far as the book iself, it looks like the publisher picked the best of materials, texts, and fonts, and then did a slapdash job of gluing it together :(

If you are a real lovecraftian fanatic buy this book ! It 's hard cover not cheap paper back

This book is without question an astounding piece of horror literature. With such classics as The Dunwich Horror, The Call of the Cthulhu and other shuddersome stories, H.P. Lovecraft creates a world in which the supernatural ingress the real world and makes its hideous presence felt.

No other author can adequately replicate H.P. Lovecraft except during the times when they're trying (often with great disappointment) to be like Lovecraft. They, at best, plummet in their endeavors as a feeble simulacrum of the real master of horror. If you like horror and have never read Lovecraft, you either don't like horror as much as you think you do, or you have been missing out on a formidable force who has influenced just about every horror writer alive today.

This is the ultimate book by Howard Phillips Lovecraft (1890-1937), being part 1 in a 4-volume series completing the editing and publishing of his entire known prose work, not including his poems. All you really need to know about this book is the names of a few of the tales included, we're talking the best of the best of horror, sci-fi & weird tales here, in my opinion; "The Colour out of Space", "The Music of Erich Zann", "The Call of Cthulhu", "The Dunwich Horror", "The Whisperer in the Darkness", "The Shadow over Innsmouth" and "The Shadow out of Time" among others. These tales represent some of my decidedly favourite literature, and I've been returning to these tales again and again for more than 10 years now. It is kind of hard to summarize the book, since it is mostly shorter stories, but Lovecraft takes you on a journey from the deepest bottom of the ocean to the highest mountainpeak, from distant planets and solarsystems to remote, dark valleys and towns, from the darkest parts of the inner earth to the fringes of the human mind, among other places.

Lovecraft is really experiencing a renaissance these days, and it is well deserved. Never really acknowledged in his living days, he is finally taking his place among the ranks of the great US authors. The tales are not dated at all, but paint a very vivid picture of Lovecraft's own period of time. Though you often "see" the ending coming before you finish a tale of his, you still get pulled into the tale, unable to close it before finding out the terrible and magnificent end you have in store for you. As I said, these tales are really the prime of his writing, although his two longer tales are to be found in one of the other 4 volumes, also sold here on Amazon, which I'll review in due time.

Film-versions of some of his tales have started popping up from time to time, recently some of them of quite well-made quality, which makes me recommend readers to read the tales, and then watch the films, a lovely experience. Joshi has done a great job editing the tales into what I assume will be the standard edition of the texts, as close to Lovecraft's original intent as possible. The introduction to the book by the liberal Jewish author Robert Bloch I found to be a worthless introduction that twists Lovecraft's mode of thought into something quite different from what he would have enjoyed. Yes, Lovecraft was a staunch racialist and conservative, but so what? Who can say he was wrong today, with the direction the West is taking, well on its way to its own death, as he foresaw.

To summarize; one of my decidedly favourite books, in a sturdy hardcover with glossy quality dustjacket written well before the madness of "political correctness". Give Lovecraft a spot on your shelf, you won't regret it. Highly recommended!

I will not try to write a complete review, since I see that there are already 17 reviews available here, several of fine quality.

This edition is of great interest because it issues from Arkham House. Arkham House publishing was founded by August Derleth, a protege of H.P. Lovecraft who himself wrote a rather large volume of pastiche material using the Cthulhu mythos of Lovecraft. One motive of Derleth's in founding Arkham House publishing was to find a medium to reissue all the writings of Lovecraft, since many were confined to the pulps like Weird Tales that had first printed them.

I recently purchased this book. The quality of the book is excellent. The print is clear and easy to read. The bookbinding quality is just excellent. This may explain why the book is not particularly cheap.

As for the contents, readers may be glad to know that this book contains much of the very finest writing Lovecraft produced. The short novels were written following Lovecraft's return from his years living in New York, and follow the breakup of his marriage. This "period" of about a decade marked the finest of Lovecraft's writings. In my opinion -- arguably -- "At the Mountains of Madness" and "The Case of Charles Dexter Ward" are the best works in the Lovecraft canon. A few other words might come up to them, but nothing's better.

Those who find Lovecraft interesting should also check out the writings of August Derleth that incorporate Lovecraft's "Cthulhu mythos." There is also a board game entitled "Arkham Horror" which attempts to recreate the scary Lovecraft universe on your card table. Whacky as this sounds, the game is fun to play.

So have at it! Scare yourselves silly! I love this sort of material myself.

I've read this book several times. Every time I pick it up, I end up laughing until I almost cry. As a bachelor myself, I relate to the grains of reality underneath O'Rouke's great sarcasm.

Not as good as "Eat The Rich" or "Parliament of Whores" or "All The Trouble in the World" or "Holidays in Hell" or "Give War A Chance"; those books are thought-provoking as well as screamingly funny. This one is just screamingly funny, but this might actually be a plus for people whose response to some of P.J.'s better works is a defensive "That's not funny!"; P.J. has a tendancy to poke fun at EVERYTHING, including the sacred cows of people who he disagrees with (and sometimes those he agrees with.)

As a 32 yr old bacelor, this book had me literally HOWLING with laughter! I let my girlfriend read it. We aren't dating anymore, LOL. As ridiculous and as obscene as some of it seems, it is startling to realize that I have actually LIVED like that!

FIVE STARS,..!!!!!!

I've been on a tear of P.J. O'Rourke's books lately, starting with Republican Party Reptile and so forth. This is by far one of P.J.'s best. I'm on the other side of the coin politically (fairly liberal) myself, but P.J. usually spares no one, and I admire that (Rush and his wacko friends could learn a thing or two).

This book is just about how to get by if you're a bachelor. It's incredibly funny for the most part (the cooking sections should not be read if you've just ate!). This is a fantastic little book, very helpful if you plan to live like a slob or like a typical college freshman.

The Bachelor Home Companion: A Practical Guide to Keeping House Like A Pig written by P.J. O'Rourke is a very funny, keep you in stiches book.

You'll never keep a house neat and tidy after you read this book. Of Course, that's assuming that you already do. What its like as a bachelor in theory as to actually being one is, according to O'Rourke, a great disparity. If you want to laugh and be entertained at the same time then this little tome is for you to enjoy.

Humor abounds and your life will definately take a turn... for better or worse will depend on you.According to O'Rourke... "How often does a house need to be cleaned, anyway? As a general rule, once every girlfriend. After that she can get to know the real you."

I used to read Bony Legs when I was little. I was so excited when I saw it on Amazon. It's a silly story about a girl named Sasha and a witch who wants to eat her...good verses evil. Sasha helps some creatures along the way, and it turn, they help her escape the evil witch.
It's a quick read and it's lots of fun!

I have purchased this book for my neices usually around Halloween time.
It is a book not many have heard of, but always enjoy.

Tracy

This book by the Magic School Bus author is really fun to read. It is a russian fairy tale of a witch named Bony Legs who likes to eat children. The story is about a little girl who escapes because of all the good deeds she has done to help others -- a cat, a dog and a gate. My kids (5 and 3 years) really enjoyed it.

My four year old son REALLY enjoys this book. It's a fun read and reinforces the value of being kind to others. It's also a great introduction into Russian folklore.

I wouldn't normally bother to add a review when so many others have already written reviews, but I do have some noteworthy information for people considering buying this book. I'm a teacher advisor for a large public school program serving kids in grades K-12 who are out of regular school due to medical conditions. I have to tell you--this book is a HIT! It's an easy reader, but it's not babyish at all. I've had kids in grades K-8 like it, including middle school kids who are poor readers (often for ESL reasons). The story is just scary enough to be intriguing, but it has a happy ending; there's also an excellent theme of how kindness pays and a fantastic chase scene at the end. As a fairy tale connoisseur, I'm convinced that Baba Yaga--from the Russian tradition--is THE coolest, scariest witch ever. (For a longer variation of this story, see Baba Yaga and Vasilissa the Brave, retold by Marianna Mayer and illustrated by K.Y. Craft.) I only wish there were more stories told this simply and effectively, with this kind of broad appeal.

Lucy Chase Williams, where are you? Have you written any oher books besides this splendid tribute to Vincent Price?

OK, maybe you were a little harsh on BACKTRACK, but I admit it is not a film for everybody. Jodie Foster was in her adventurous period then, and making a film by Dennis Hopper was probably a mistake, but give her credit for trying something different! As for Price, he is terrific in the movie, and the whole thing is defnitely a more worthy picture than many which you,
But in the main what can I say, you've done an excellent job, not only interviewing the obvious co-stars and producers, but also some obscure ones. I was thrilled to find an interview with the late Alexander Knox in your book. Knox, who played WILSON in the eponymous 1944 Fox historical epic, gave this interview only a few days before his own death, and reading his words gives the avid reader a new insight into the way Vincent Price saw his own function as an actor, an entertainer, and a man of public policy. I wonder if it's true that Price was a victim of blacklisting; certainly his career changes radically during the McCarthy Era and when it was over, he was firmly typecast in a series of profitable, some very successful artistically almost in spite of himself, B pictures. Did he regret going the horror route? You could never really tell. This book dips a little into Price's resentment at the way Sears ruined his credibility as a collector and art historian.

The book makes us long for the release of more of Price's 1940s films on DVD! How about MOSS ROSE or THE WEB or THE EVE OF ST MARK

The photos are unbelievable, especially the bare-shouldered, long-haired beefcake shot that begins the book (London, 1935, with a pervert behind the camera) or the December 1964 shot in which Elsa Lanchester, Vampira, and Carroll Borland pose with Price at the opening of THE TOMB OF LIGEIA. All these different generations of horror stars frozen forever in one frame: it's like a white version of A GREAT DAY IN HARLEM.

The first part of this coffee-table sized book gives an overview of Vincent Price's life, as well as his career. Obviously not a believer in reincarnation, this section concludes with a quote from Vincent Price himself. "You only get one time around, so why waste a minute of this glorious life?" The remainder of this book discusses every feature film connected with Vincent Price, whether he was the star, co-star, narrator, had a brief cameo or did the voice of an animated character. All 100 entries give the release date of the film, the film studio that made the picture, the running time, whether it was filmed in black and white or color, the cast, the director, the producer, the writer, etc. The next section gives a synopsis of the plot, sometimes followed by quotes from the man himself or other actors appearing in the film, and all concluding with contemporary reviews of the movie. Each entry has at least one photo from the actual film or a candid picture taken on the film set or, at the very least, the accompanying movie poster. Two things struck me while reading this book. One, Vincent Price was a versatile actor who excelled in every genre of film he appeared in, not just horror movies. Two, every actor quoted mentioned his wicked sense of humor, how great he was to get along with, and his professionalism. Of the latter, Gregory Peck summed it up best. "You get a bad piece of material, you do everything you can to improve it...That's what you're supposed to do. That's what Vincent did. I'm sure that he never, in his life, phoned it in, so to speak, or did less than his utmost best..." If you're looking for a book that dishes dirt and recounts gossip, look elsewhere. If you're looking for a comprehensive book of all of Vincent Price's movies, look no further.

Forget the biographical portion of this book - it's short and general, though sufficient to the purpose of what this volume really is, which is a celebration of Price's life and films.

What sells this book is the pictures. Gorgeous stills from all of Price's movies - and quite a few from his life and stage plays, as well - plentifully stuff this beautiful coffee-table offering, on every page. Each film is discussed briefly, along with notes on its place in Price's life and ouevre, and accompanied by comments from his directors, producers and co-stars, and even Price, himself. Each picture is worth a thousand words, and some of them are really remarkable - for instance, cartoon cells from characters Price voiced for Disney studios and Miramax (The Great Mouse Detective and Arabian Knight) and Hanna-Barbera's The 13 Ghosts of Scooby Doo. There are photos of him with famous seemingly unlikely latter-day admirers, like Alice Cooper. Caricatures and print-ads abound, such as Price selling Tuaca liqueur and Emba minks. Even his image on a long-forgotten Milton Bradley "Shrunken Head Apple Sculpture" kit is on display.

If you're a fan, or looking for a Christmas or birthday present for someone who is, you just couldn't beat the bargain of this book at twice the "price"!

I can hear that silly associate of Patsy Stone's of ABFAB saying "lots of lovely...photos," and besides being a great filmography of Price's work, this book features a host of visuals that aren't the run-of-the-mill variety publicity shots you're likely to find elsewhere. Nice quips from Price himself and colleagues about his films, life, and art-collecting. A great reference for the shelf. Wholly recommended.

on page 252-253 there's a great picture of Price, Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, and John Carradine in 1983 during a photo session for the film "House of the Long Shadows", a movie that i like {however, i hate the character that Arnaz, Jr. played because of his cynicism and lack of respect for traditional horror}. the pictures, incidentally, make up for the lack of coverage of Vincent's other careers! there's pictures of his cartoon characters from Disney and Hanna-Barbera. there's posters for the "Butterfly Ball" project plus numerous print ads for products that appeared in magazines. a picture of him with Alice Cooper is also shown! the rest of this book highlights all 100 of Vincent's FEATURE films, which are anything that is shown in movie theatres. i think the book is great! seeing the pictures and movie posters are like walking through time...i wouldn't have added any negative criticism about the movies because it dampens the mood of the book, which is to be a celebration of his career in movies...but there are several harsh criticisms of his films from critics and Vincent himself, who himself was a critic: of art! the book also contains Vincent's now-legendary comments on his own profession just after wrapping up the 1987-released film "The Offspring". in brief, Price announces that he's tired and bored talking about horror films. it's then explained that the film he just finished maybe caused him to be a bit testy with the reporter. Price had realized after his scenes were complete that the producers/director were filming extreme gore and slasher elements to be aired around his narrative parts and it made him furious that his name and image would be grouped with that TYPE of film once again {1984's "Bloodbath at the House of Death" was pretty gory and Price's appearance clashes with the sadistic storyline}. "The Offspring" was a Tales From the Crypt meets Twilight Zone anthology in which Price plays a town historian in rural Oldfield. a picture from that film (a shot of Price at a desk) is here. GET this book!!!

This is my second Jon F Merz book, and numbers 3 and 4 are on my nightstand, waiting their turn.

I like Merz's gritty, noir style, and Lawson is a very interesting character. This novel gives him more depth than The Fixer did, and shows he's more than a one-dimensional "rough cop" type. I also like Merz's fight descriptions, it is obvious he has some experience in martial arts.

This book, like The Fixer, reads very fast and likes to tap you on the shoulder and say "Boo!" every now and then. Definitely worth reading.

As I was reading The Invoker, I couldn't help but wonder what Quentin Tarantino would make of this book. After all, without all of his work to bring back the pulp noir of the 40s and 50s, The Invoker probably wouldn't exist. This is a raw book filled with raw and unsympathetic characters. These vampires aren't searching for redemption, they're only trying to make it trough another day. They are full of irony, witty comebacks and they lust for action and blood.

Lawson is yet again our main character. A vampire who has seen it all (in Merz's novels, vampires do drink blood, but the supersitions about garlic and holy water and the sun is only a myth; they walk in daylight and the only way to kill them is by piercing their skin with wood), Lawson is a gritty narrator who hides nothing from the readers.

This time, he is hired to killed a man. Only, upon killing him, the man asks Lawson to protect his son. His son, a vampire with the ability to invoke spirits from the other side, is being hunted. Lawson quickly decides to do anything in his power to protect the child from harm.

The first half of the book is incredibly fast paced and a great joy for the reader. But when the kid is kidnapped and Lawson finds himself hiking through Tibet, the book becomes slow and repetitive, as if Merz just stretched everything out for as long as he could to give his book an acceptable length. Still, it all brings us to a satisfying if predictable finale.

The Vampire Lawson series isn't groundbreaking, but it's great fun to read. This is a little quickie that you can read for the sole purpose of entertainment and amusement. Merz's writing is tight and Lawson always has a witty comeback just waiting to erupt from his lips. Here's hoping that the series keeps being so much fun!

If this was a movie, I would call it a guy flick. A lot of blood and gore and of course the beautiful girl want's to jump the lead characters bones--only to get huffy when her needs are not met. The lead character is cast as not all that good looking, but buff and cool. I mean, do I really need to go on. Like I said guy flick, guy flick, and did I mention guy flick. It's doable as an easy read, but the editing mistakes could drive you batty.

Without question, the Invoker is the best of the four Lawson Vampire novels written by Jon Merz. The things I particularly liked about it were the attention to details, historical settings, and backstory. Tons of backstory, which for me, helps to flesh out the universe in which the characters interact.

Look, this series is just amazing. Never before have I seen a spin on vampires like this. Usually, the books are full of drippy ambiguously sexual idiots who hang around Goth bars and wax poetic about the glorious undead life. Yuk! Thank god Merz has come along to put some real punch into the vampire subgenre. What amazes me most is how unknown this series is still. These are incredible books and the action and pacing are top notch. Think Elmore Leonard dialog mixed with the relentless pacing of the best spy novels, combined with some of the wittiest dark humor I've ever read, and it's just skimming the surface of what you'll find reading Merz's work. I gave this 5 stars because it truly deserves it. I hope Merz is writing the Lawson books for years to come. He's one of the best new writers working today and more people need to read him.

I've purchased this book 4 times. The first time I bought it, I was browsing in a bookstore. I'd never heard of Christopher Moore before. Initially, the cover caught my attention. Then, I read the title and knew I had to buy it. (I have a sorta twisted sense of humor.)

By page 10, I had gone out to buy the book a second time for my Dad (He's twisted too - I got it honestly). This book is LAUGH-OUT-LOUD funny. Imagine someone on the bus reading what looks like the bible - laughing involuntarily as they read. I'm sure many dirty looks and prayers were sent my way on those days.

I finished Lamb, and gifted my previously read copy to my uncle - which gave me an excuse to buy a fresh new copy to read again. Then, I bought a fourth to have in reserve just in case I come across someone else to give it to - or keep for myself in mint condition (don't you just LOVE gilded pages?).

I won't write about the plot, characters or details of the book - I hate spoilers. All I will say is that this was the best book I have read in a long time. The subject matter, storyline, and Moore's writing style all culminate in a great reading experience. I have made it a point to read all of his other novels.

A first timer of Moore, I got this when I read the first few chapters while at a friend's house. I tell you, the opening paragraph is all you need to become hooked.

Moore's work is painstaikingly true-to-earth, making Jesus [Joshua] a more human-esque, loveable and a believable saviour then anything I've ever read. Biff, his childhood friend, is the classic sidekick, but with more originality then a beta fish. [Try and make sense of that one] Overall, Moore's work is a stunning, beautiful, well-crafted piece of literature that everyone should get.

Especially when it's a book that looks as nice as this one!

I absolutely laughed till I cried. It all makes sense now... This is a must read for anyone who has ever taken religion tooooooo seriously.

This book is easily in my top 5 favorite books. I might even say it's #1.

When I laughed out loud at the first page... I knew I was going to love this book. I could totally see everything in the book unfolding back in the day.

Some people didn't like the ending, and I must admit I was a little surprised... but when I thought for a minute, 'I got it' and it was the perfect ending.

Definitely a conversation starter... definitely a keeper for rereading over & over again.

I love this book for how it incites great conversation and it is a welcome addition to my small collection.

This is one of those books that really gets people talking. Conversations range from the story itself, to the historical truths or lack thereof, the religious implications, and now its look.

I really enjoyed reading this book the first time around when I would find myself laughing out loud when I would least expect it, and most recently with this edition where a friend thought I was laughing about something in the Bible itself.

This new edition was a great idea, with only one flaw: It can be difficult to hold open because it is bound tightly. I'm afraid of causing too much wear to the spine of the book, but in retrospect I guess that would only add to its charm of looking like a Bible.

Couldn't put the book down from beginning to end. It was that good. The action kept me on the edge and it had a good premise. The ending was stellar. Starting the 2nd one as soon as it comes in.

This book is a great thriller. It kept me on my toes and wanting to read more. This is definetly a hard book to put down. I would reccomend this book to anyone who likes science fiction.

Prowlers is a rip-roaring horror thriller with touches of the 1987 movie The Lost Boys and Dean Koontz's Twilight Eyes. It's not a sweeping, apocalyptic novel set on a grand stage but, rather, is more of an intense and personal study on loss and grief, offset with grim, no-quarter-given skirmishes between average but resourceful Jack and the relentless Prowlers.

Jack Dwyer is a hardworking 19-year old, who helps run the thriving Bridget's Irish Rose Pub with his co-owner and older sister Courtney. His social life is basically nil. The few times he goes out, he does so in the accompany of his best friend Artie and Artie's girl Molly. One night, he is set up with Molly's friend Kate and they double date with Artie and Molly. Tragedy strikes when, on their way home, Artie and Kate are savagely attacked and killed.

The weirdness begins when Artie's ghost manifests and warns a still grieving Jack of the true nature of his and Kate's slayers: the horrific, shafeshifting Prowlers. Jack's newfound knowledge puts him in deadly peril as he confronts the ravenous pack of monsters, who quickly become aware that Jack knows more than he should. Very, very soon Jack, Molly, Courtney, and bartender and close family friend Bill Cantwell will be furiously fighting for their very survival against insatiable, superhuman creatures who stalked the earth before man ever crawled out of the ocean.

Christopher Golden takes a slightly slanted approach with this "werewolf" tale. In his take, Prowlers aren't humans who are bitten and then transform into cursed werewolves, but, rather, are murderous, inhuman creatures who assume the identity of humans to blend in with their unwitting, chosen prey.

Prowlers is an addictive, stay-up-all-night kind of read. Golden does take some time to set the stage and introduce the pertinent characters. But, oboy, once he revs up that engine, this novel is a non-stop thrill ride. Golden uses simple, straightforward, yet effective prose to relentlessly drive the storyline. Because Golden makes very sure to emphasize and dwell on the close-knit relations of Jack and friends, the reader invests more into the characters, especially in scenes where they are put in grave jeopardy. Maybe, too, because of the extra exposition at the start, his main protagonists Jack and Molly have substance and thus seem very real to the reader. Needless to say, Courtney and Bill are also very easy to root for.

And here's the good news: Prowlers is the introductory novel to thus far a four-book series. The sequels, in sequential order, are titled Laws of Nature, Predator and Prey, and Wild Things. And if you like the way this prolific dude writes, also check out his Shadow Saga, the Menagerie series and Myth Hunters (book 1 of the Veil series).

Author Christopher Golden puts his own twist on the werewolf story (and then cleverly proposes his "reality" as the genesis of the mythos) in Prowlers, the first entry in a series. Jack Dwyer, 19 (and not Ed Gorman's P.I. of the same name), and his sister Courtney, five years his senior, have lost both of their parents -- their father left and their mother died -- leaving them in charge of the family business, a Boston pub called Bridget's Irish Rose.

After a double date with Jack, a new girl named Kate, and Jack's best friends Molly and Artie, Kate and Artie are savagely murdered on the way home. As if it weren't bad enough that Jack and Molly have lost their best friends, now Jack is also being visited by Artie's ghost.

Artie refuses to "go on" until Jack does something about the creatures who killed him -- the Prowlers. The Prowlers are creatures that are fully animal, but can appear human. Though the police seem to know of their existence, the Prowlers have never made the newspapers because, after every murder committed by them, the Boston police swoop in to clean everything up quickly, making sure that no one tells what they say ... because who would believe them anyway? So now it's up to Jack and Molly to rid Boston of the Prowlers, especially pack leader, Owen Tanzer -- scion of a Prowler dynasty -- and his bloodthirsty (and rather cocky) followers.

After fifty slow pages of exposition, I almost gave up on Prowlers, but it picks up speed soon after. Golden keeps the plot moving briskly but doesn't neglect his characters' inner thoughts or relationships. His ability to get into the minds of young adults in remarkable -- all of his characters are realistic. Though they are caught up in an unreal situation, these characters behave and respond like real people -- albeit ones a bit more heroic than average. This is the first full-length novel I've read of Golden's (I'd previously read the novella included in Four Dark Nights, and it's made me eager to find others. Luckily, to begin with, there are three more novels in this series, beginning with Laws of Nature (Prowlers #2).

After finishing PROWLERS, the first book in this series by Christopher Golden, the only question I have is why it's proclaimed to be a young adult read. I guess it's because the main character, Jack Dwyer, is nineteen--but besides their age, there's nothing about this book that would make it strictly for young adult readers!

Jack's life is pretty predictable. Ever since the death of his mother in a car accident that also injured his sister, Courtney, the two have run Bridget's Irish Rose Pub together, making it into the type of pub/restaurant that their mother would have been proud of. Jack didn't attend college after high-school, but he's part owner of the Pub, has a number of friends, and is basically content with his life. He's even gotten a date with Kate, a friend of Molly's, who dates Jack's best friend, Artie.

Life is good, until after their double-date, when Jack and Molly have been dropped off at their respective houses, and things get ugly really quickly. Kate and Artie are found dead--mutilated and brutally murdered. The cops don't know what to make of it, and Jack--along with Molly--are existing in a sort of limbo, trying to come to terms with the death of their friends and loved ones.

And then Artie comes back--as a spirit from the Ghostlands, the place where spirits reside until they're ready to move on--to warn Jack about the Prowlers. Prowlers--monsters in human clothing, a lot like werewolves but different, who prey on humans and who are responsible for Kate and Artie's deaths.

What is Jack supposed to make of this? First, he can suddenly see ghosts. Secondly, there's monsters roaming the streets of Boston, and he feels compelled to bring them to justice. With cops covering up the murders that are soon piling up in town (including a nasty dispatch of some security guards at Fenway Park), Jack has no one to turn to except Molly, his sister Courtney, and the Pub's bartender, Bill Cantwell.

A fast-paced, compelling, thrilling, and often greusome read, PROWLERS was absolutely awesome! Action, the paranormal, the story of love and friendship, all weave together to make this a book you won't be able to put down once you start reading. I highly recommend it, and can't wait to read the next book in the series.

This piece had me hooked from the beginning. I would very much like to read the rest of the novel. It is very easy to visualize what the author is describing. The driving game Scribbler plays makes me laugh. I think this author has a bright publishing future.

Living in Michigan I loved reading the geographics of this book. I also have suffered a closed head injury from an auto accident. That made the story more interesting to me. Can't wait to read more.

Wow! Great imagery and characterization in this story! I enjoyed the way that the author seemed knowledgeable about the situations and medical terminology needed for the story, while presenting it in an easy-to-read format. This story tore me away from studying, and it takes a lot for that to happen! Can't wait to read more (and get another break from studying!)from this author!

To be compared in any way with Edgar Allen Poe & Stephen King speaks volumes in itself about this book. The visual imagery that Mr. McDaniel creates is phenomenal. The character is real, the little we can read is compelling & draws the reader to turn the page for more. Yes, a slow start, (as many books do), but running full speed by the end of the 1st chapter (which a lot of PUBLISHED books never achieve). I'd say that just like movie critics who get it wrong, 2 of the 'editorial' critics are way off. The reviews by the 'regular' people of the world speak for what is thought about this book.

Scribbler by D. McDaniel opens with Steven Harris reviewing his editor/publicist's note for the umpteenth time. For the this first quarter of the excerpt, the reader rides along with Steven as he continues to think on this note and the possibility of finally getting published.
During this we are also introduced to his 'missile' game. I chuckled at first mention of the game and even the second, but the fun Steven has with it felt like a dead horse by the time he thinks of his game stats for the final time. Not that isn't precisely how some one would think on the matter, but this is supposed to be a build up to something terrible. It feels a bit more like passing the reader's time, rather than painting a picture of ordinariness that is about to be smashed apart.
This could also be applied to Steven's thoughts on how driving worked that day, always worked, and was working again. No need to be so repetitive.

When the accident takes places, the writing is cranked up to increase the heart rate of the reader. I was feeling it. My only thought would be to trim out any unnecessary words to increase the punch.
E.G.: rapidly started to skid back ...you could cut 'rapidly' out. Given the momentum of the scene, I wouldn't think anything otherwise.

A comment: The words mosaic and kaleidoscope were each used twice in the excerpt. They aren't all too common, so if used repeatedly close enough together, their value as image words is diminished. Mosaic was seen twice within a couple of paragraphs, while kaleidoscope was far enough apart that it was nice to see it again.

Once the action of the accident settled down, and Steven is trapped in the car, he becomes intent on retrieving his manuscript, despite the searing pain. I really like the way this was written (the writer and his pain). His emotions were high, then calm after he grips the envelope. This makes the scene ripe for the dog's attack, which actually got my heart pumping more than the accident did. The attack and subsequent rescue scenes were paced wonderfully and I really felt interested in the story at this point.

Overall, the author has shown he has what it takes to create a sense of panic and terror, not only for his character but for the reader. However, the drag of progress in the first quarter of this piece makes me wary about encountering such blocks of 'time passing' again. The writing is good and engaging when the author is really working his preferred bits of the story: terror, action, mystery. Once the other parts are brought into line and tightened up, this could make for a truly spine tingling book.