Horror Books

my kids loved it when the BBC series came out years ago. the concept is good, the story, excuse me, novel. But the execution could be revised somewhat, maybe extended and needs to be less author-driven and the theme as a whole could be taken further. It is a book of its day. but it's still a good read in this time of hit-and-run writing.

When I started reading this book, I thought: "Oh great, a boring story about some girl who's sick in bed. Fun." But, as I got into the book it became incredibly interesting. I started to feel I was Marianne, even though I'm a boy. When she met Mark in her dream as the boy she drew, because her tutor Mrs Chesterfield told her about him, I really felt for him. This book is really and truly gripping, an amazing read. When it ended, I was really sad because I wanted it to go on forever and follow the rest of the adventures and Marianne and Mark.

Overall, this book is incredibly enjoyable and I would recommend it to anyone.

I really liked this book. What I couldnt understand was what was wrong with Marianne? I indeed did find it a little scary but more eerie when reading at night. I loved reading it from front to back and I have read it again the same old plot not getting old.

I absolutely loved this original tale that beautifully captures the world of a sick young girl. Marianne is ten when she develops an illness that confines her to bed for several months. She passes time by drawing a house on paper, and dreams feverishly of the same house while asleep. Her adventures in the house with a boy named Marc become more frightening as her illness worsens. In the dreams, Catherine Storr touches on the dream-like fears of the children while in real life they deal with more substantial fears, such as illness and lonliness. Sometimes Marianne's fears turn into nightmares, which I found frightening but still appropriate for children. This is not the case for the movie, Paperhouse, which was way too much for pre-teens. All in all, I'd say that this is a book that crosses all age bounderies and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a simple but facinating story.

And a bit odd too. Parts of the story that are supposed to be scary just end up being mearly curious. I mean I would not be scared by a boulder with an eye. Nor would I constantly eat sausages, like Marianne and Mark do. And they are particulary fond of the word "beastly". Every second sentence contains this word.

I won't go into detail about the story as the other reviews provide enough info but I will say that the book differs from the film (Paperhouse, in which Marianne becomes Anna Madden) greatly. It doesn't feel as menacing nor does Marianne have the same kind of cockiness and early-adulthood intelligence she has in the film. Instead, she's a year younger and seems more childlike. The story of Marianne's absent dad and having him appear in her dreams as a madman is not here either. The evil forces take the form of monolithical stones with eyes. And the stones chase Marianne and Mark?!

Very weird indeed, I'm not quite sure how the physics of that works tho. It's probably all subtextual. But I can't figure it out. The ending is also completely different from the film too.

I wish this book was darker and had a bit more evil in it. The boulders with eyes just don't do it for me. It didn't feel threatening at all. Althogether this a bit of a disappointment. It's not fully engaging or mysterious and seems too tame. I can't figure out what audience Catherine Storr was writing for but it seems a little unmagical for kids and a too tame for adults. Maybe it was different back in 1958 tho.

This is hands down the best werewolf story I've ever read. I can't believe it hasn't been made into a movie.

One of the hidden classics, right up there with Harry Shannon's new Night of the Werewolf for imagination and verve. I went on a tear recently with Silver Bullet, The Wild and a bunch of other oldies like Wolfen. This one is fun. If you like furry faced horror track it down.

I think this book was perfect for my reading needs, it doesn't start really slow and it is interesting the whole way through. This is the first book I read by Jeffrey Sackett but now I am tempted to read another one. This book was a great depiction of a werewolf's life and doesn't have some of those corny superstitions like other werewolf books or movies. This is a must read!

One of the most enjoyable reads I've had in years.The unique way the author re-origins the werewolf is a reverse angle that will keep you turning the pages quickly. I lent my copy out never to see it again, it took me almost two years to find another.I won't let this one out of the house again,that's how good it was!

I first read this book years ago, loaned it away and never saw it again. A few months ago I tracked another copy down in a used book store and, though a little afraid it wouldn't be as good as I remembered, read it again. It didn't let me down. It's too bad this novel (probably Sackett's best by far) is so hard to come by, as it is really the most interesting and entertaining horror novel I think I've ever read. No other book I can think of mixes classic scares, history, and spirituality in such an entertaining way. At times it can be a little pulpy, but the facinating recollections of the lead character are worth the price of admission. Give it a try if you can find one.

Driving in Los Angeles is always problematic, but when a giant monolith suddenly appears in the middle of Hollywood Boulevard to signal yet another impending apocalypse, things quickly come to a standstill. Except for Angel and his teammates. They know right away that it's time once again to stop sipping the pig's blood and get to work.

When an ancient demon bamboozles a failing actress into carrying out an ancient ritual that will open the portals to hell, Angel faces a series of ugly problems. Not the least of which is that neither he, nor Wesley, nor anyone else have a clue what is actually going on. They know it must be bad, since every demon in town it headed out, but what kind of bad, or how bad, is still a mystery. Everyone goes into action, but the clues are slow in coming. And time is running out.

As I've noted elsewhere, John Passarella is a natural storyteller. This time he takes a high-tension story line and fleshes it out with two of the show's most complex relationships - that between Connor and Angel (who last buried Angel in the ocean) and that between Gunn and Fred (who seem caught in a web of interlocking guilt and obligation). The result is an action story with moments of poignancy and depth.

In fact, the story has a bit of everything. Demon dogs, creepy wizards, dark soldiers, and wild chase scenes populate the narrative. The characters, who have come through some rough times, are rebalancing their interplay, and Passerella captures the increasing maturity of the cast as well as the high tension of a summoning to end all summonings. One of this year's best Angel books.

This book was really great i loved how indepth it got with Connor and Angels relationship. I also thought it had a little bit comic in it to lighten the mood just like the show. (I thought it was hystererical when Connor was putting up a distraction so wesley could get by the monolith and Lorne,Cordy and Fred saw it on the news. (Cracked me up) Gunns tourist distraction was funny too. Great you shoukld definatley pick it up!

Great book!!! I loved it!!! Excellent story about Angel and Connor as well as Cordy, Lorne, Gunn, Fred and Wes.

I really loved this book! I cant seem to put it down!

A chilling stone monolith carved with two demonic faces has arisen in the middle of Hollywood Boulevard, leaving many interpretations of it's actual cause. Some believe it is nothing more than an elaborate publicity stunt for a new horror movie, while religious extremists believe it's the sign of an upcoming apocalypse. The Angel Investigations team though come to truly understand the full extent of the threat that the monolith poses to mankind. And with Hyconian demons causing havoc through the streets of L.A., it soon becomes clear that differences will have to be set aside if they're to come out victorious.

Angel: Monolith is a heart pounding, thrill-packed, adventure in Joss Whedon's Angel-verse as seen through the observant eyes of the Bram Stoker Award-winning horror author, John Passarella. Passarella has seamlessly handled the tricky task of bringing life to these characters and situations within the pages of his novel while adding his own unique sense of style to make an instant lasting impact. What makes this novel extra better is the fact that it's written through the pen (or PC) of a fellow fan who has obviously paid serious attention to the way the characters behave down to the even slightest of details.

The action is cranked high throughout but really takes an epic turn in it's final pages in which Angel and co. can't seem to stay six feet away from danger. This isn't the only brilliant factor though in this outstanding novel. The character involvement is far superior to that of any other Angel novels as Passarella has cleverly placed his story in a complex time for it's characters during it's fourth season. This leaves a much stronger plot for the author to develop his story around, one in which relationship triangles and un-easy bonds between characters are tested to their furthest limits, especially that of the two central characters, Angel and his demon-hunting son Connor.

The plot that Passarella has cleverly weaved within the current situation with the Television show is unlike any other previously experienced and you're guaranteed not to read anything like it anywhere else.

Novels by John Passarella always leave a strong sense of satisfaction behind long after you've passed the final pages and undoubtedly, Angel: Monolith is no exception of this. Passarella has perfectly struck the right balance between thrilling action and a strong story making this Angel novel much more widely appealing as a whole than any other, action-heavy, novels.

Angel: Monolith is an essential purchase for every Angel fan's collection.

Highly recommended. Buy it now!

I agree with the other reviewer that the more interesting stories are at the end. Pressey has some writing talent, but needed an editor or proofreader as there are a few errors like "she couldn't bare children" in there. (That may not bother other people like it does me! It just takes me right out of the story and into my editor's hat.) Clearly her family has some openness to the spirit world or they wouldn't have had this many experiences. I was hoping for more of a long-term haunting story, though, and this is more a collection of shorter stories of individual experiences. If that's what you're looking for, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Perhaps I should have started at the back of the book, because the good stories are there. The first few stories are so mild and "un-scary" that I almost put the book down, but I prodded on. It was worth it, because the book gets better as the stories progress. Still, the book is smaller than Amazon states, it's only 139 pages, and a small paperback. I read it in a few hours and I think the price is a bit steep for that size book.

The stories are believable and well-written. As someone who also has a "haunted family," many of the stories told in this book sound familiar. I should also add that I'm glad the author commented that newer houses are just as apt to be haunted as old ones. I have lived in new houses with many spirits, while the house we are in now is 117 years old, and completely still. So her observations in that regard are spot on.

I'm giving this book 4 stars because the stories in the beginning of the book aren't so hot, and the book is too small for the price. Otherwise, it's a good read and hopefully she'll market it at some of the B&B's she visited.

I love this book !

It's very well written and holds your attention throughout. I highly recommend this book. Congratulations Rose.

Bill Bean Author of Dark Force

I loved this book... each and every story was very chilling. This will be one I'll read again and again!

I bought this a couple of days ago as a gift for a friend's Halloween birthday party, but one rainy afternoon and three coffees later and it looks like I'll have to find her another gift! This book is written like a collection of short stories that are easy to read and leave you wanting to know more about this intriguing family. It's a captivating page-turner that is guaranteed to raise the hairs on the back of your neck and make you want to leave the lights on in the dark. Highly recommended. Actually, I'm just going to buy another copy to give to my friend, it's *definitely* something that she would like too.

If you have read the previous 3 books from Kathy Love you have a basic Idea. If you have not read the serious it is not a problem this book does not leave you lost like others in a series.
My sister is a wereworlf is entertaining and a definate can't put the book down untill I am finished.My Sister is a Werewolf (The Young Brothers, Book 4)

this is a very good book that compliments the ones before. It finishes the series off nice. I wish there was going to be more, but it doesn't look like that.
anyway, I love this author and love the style of writing.

Elizabeth Young is a werewolf in a family of vampires. She's trying to change that, though, by working on a vaccine that will cure her of her werewolf affliction. She thinks she's close, but nothing has worked.

Jensen Alder has come back to West Pines to take over his retired grandfather's veterinary practice. Jensen's fiancée died in a car accident. He feels terrible guilt over the event and doesn't plan on falling in love, until he meets Elizabeth in her brother's bar.

Jensen doesn't know Elizabeth is a werewolf. He just knows that he's very attracted to her. She obviously feels the same way, since she comes on to him the first night they meet. That meeting starts them on a ride over rugged terrain, where they will both face up to their feelings.

Alternating between sweet and tender, and erotic and hot, My Sister is a Werewolf is a fun, engaging thrill ride of a story. I loved watching Elizabeth and Jensen dance around their attraction to each other, and then finally learn to waltz together.

The feelings in this story pulled at my heartstrings and made me sigh in more than one place. My Sister is a Werewolf is a great addition to Ms. Love's Young Brothers' series. This is definitely a story that paranormal lovers won't want to miss.

Amelia
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Great start to the book. Wonderful sex scenes, very hot. The writing or editing (I'm not sure which) falters a little at the end. When the hero is attacked by the bad guy his senses change (he can see in the dark). It seemed to me that he had started his "change" into a werewolf hero, but in the climax the heroine had to change him. So, what happened? Was it a miss in the editing or a plot change in the writing that never got fixed? Minor complaints, The Young Brothers Series is well worth the read. The first in the series is my favorite. I keep waiting for her to get that good again. She almost did in "Wanting What You Get", but I'm still waiting.
Kathy Love is well worth the read.

Kathy Love does another hot and sexy tale in My Sister Is A Werewolf.

Elizabeth Young has been finally reunited with her long lost brothers. This should bring her joy but she has that pesky werewolf business to deal with. Plus she is hard at work trying to find a cure for her ailment. Elizabeth can't explain why she is so restless of late, she is on edge. She spots an attractive man at her brother's bar that she approaches for a night of passion with no strings.

Veterinarian Jensen Adler has moved back home to help his aging grandfather with his vet practice. This is also a chance for him to start to socialize again after a tragic loss. When a stunning woman offers to rock his world there is no way he is saying no. But this wild and sexy woman has a sweet and vulnerable side that Jensen is also intrigued by.

Elizabeth and Jensen both have troubled past that are affecting their daily lives. When a man from Elizabeth's past tries to cause trouble, Elizabeth tries to protect her love ones. But Jensen has his own ideas about keeping Elizabeth safe.

My Sister Is A Werewolf is a wonderful addition to the previous books in this series. It was a special treat for me to reconnect with her brothers and their mates. Seeing them interact with Elizabeth just made me love them more. This book is another keeper for me.

This was a pretty good Sabrina book. Sabrina keeps popping into TV shows and books, because of a spell Hilda tries to put on Amanda. This book has some funny parts, but in some places it was a little boring.

Sabrina pops in and out of books and tv shows, because Amanda has put a spell on her. It's a great book, and it's real funny!

The Sabrina books are naturally good. Now You See Her Now You Dont is a really humorous book.It's all about a youth potion a random popping spell and Sabrina's bratty cousin Amanda.I think Sabrina fan's will really enjoy this fascinating book.

What's going on? All of a sudden, Sabrina keeps popping out of real life & into a novel or TV show! Then a few seconds later she pops back to the real world again. So far, no one has witnessed her strange disappearances. But how long can she be that lucky?

Sabrina is sure it's just another pop quiz from the Quizmaster. But she can't she can't come up with the right solution, & there's a party at the roller rink tonight. What if she's skating & just disappears into thin air? Won't everyone think that's a teensy bit weird?

Even worse, every time Sabrina pops out, she's gone a little longer. If this keeps up, she could disappear from real life completely!

What's going on? All of a sudden, Sabrina keeps popping out of real life & into a novel or TV show! Then a few seconds later she pops back to the real world again. So far, no one has witnessed her strange disappearances. But how long can she be that lucky?

Sabrina is sure it's just another pop quiz from the Quizmaster. But she can't she can't come up with the right solution, & there's a party at the roller rink tonight. What if she's skating & just disappears into thin air? Won't everyone think that's a teensy bit weird?

Even worse, every time Sabrina pops out, she's gone a little longer. If this keeps up, she could disappear from real life completely!

I've been a fan of the Saint-Germain series for quite a few years now. I have always been curious as to the earlier years of the Count's life, and this book illustrated those years beautifully. I loved gaining more insight as to the Count's personality. Madelaine has also been a favorite character [if it's possible to be jealous of a fictional character, then i'm completely jealous! she has the complete love of the Count, AND she gets to travel all over the place]. I've also had a huge interest in Egyptology, so in truth, this book combines two of my favorite subjects, Egypt and vampires.

All in all, I thought it was a well-written novel, as always. Although, I don't think this would necessarily be the best starting novel for this series. If anything, read Hotel Transylvannia before this one, so that you at least get the backstory of Saint-Germain and Madelaine. I have a couple biases to this story, so I think it's probably going to be towards the top of my favorites list.

Ever since the publication of the first Saint-Germain book, I have been hooked on Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's books. I have often wondered how she remained a relatively obscure author, given the popularity that Anne Rice has enjoyed with her vampire series. While Rice is a great author, she lacks the historical research that goes into Yarbro's books... perhaps that's a liability for some romance readers who want instant gratification, without savoring a well crafted book, for this is what Out Of The House Of Life truly is! As another reviewer remarked, I, too,have learned more of history through this remarkable lady than anywhere else, College education included! This book goes back 6,000 years, and traces the roots of St. Germaine's history- the ignoble savage, slowly, over centuries, becoming the strong, sexy, and secure vampire with a heart of gold. I especially liked learning so much about Egyptian history in this novel, and found it refreshing. Unlike her earliest novels, I recently found that Yarbro's later books have become all too predictable-- poor misunderstood vampire stands up for the underdog, and becomes persecuted once again. Same scenes, same predicable outcomes. This novel shines out from the most recent, in that, it has more to say than that. The action doesn't get bogged down for lack of a plot this time. Too bad Yarbro didn't learn from this one, and stay on this track.. I can't say the same for books about St. Germaine published right after this one, and certainly not for the ones just before it, either.

Or seventh, if you discount the three books that focused on Olivia. Or first (and as of this writing, only) in the Madeline series. Depends on how you look at it.

About a fifth of this book, I would estimate, is about Saint Germain himself, in the days of ancient Egypt, and some of his most formative moments. The rest of it centers on Madeline de Montalia, his former lover and vampiric "daughter", in the early ninteenth century, on an archeological dig in Egypt. The plot and characterization are excellent as usual for Ms. Yarbro; the pattern begun in the previous book (A Candle For d' Artgnan) of the editing being somewhat sloppier than in previous books is continued here; these were the first two books of the series to come out in "quality" or trade paperback editions, rather than mass-market, and frankly the editing in the previous books was better. Apparently, someone considers "quality" to be defined by the size of the book and the type of binding, rather than by efficient editing. There are about a dozen places in the book where there is a wrong word used, or a word missing, or an extra word inserted, or similar sloppinesses. Still, the book is well worth the read, and comes highly recommended.

I have read all the St. Germaine ( and Olivia) novels (well, not the brand new _Communion Blood_)and the collection of short stories too. This is my favorite for St. Germaine's recollections in the form of long letters to Madeline about when he first lived in Egypt. It is in this book that we find out details about what made him become a *good* vampire who values life.

This is contrasted with Madeline's struggle to be accepted as an Egyptologist.

I recommend it very highly. (And unlike some series of books there is no correct order to read these books in. Just read them as they come to you, but read them if you are interested in historical fiction with a _very_ long view. These books are much more about that than traditional horror novels.)Julia Walter

Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's extremely civilized, debonair vampire protagonist, the immortal Comte de Saint-Germain, spent more than one-third of his considerable lifetime in the land of the Pharaohs, in the very shadows of the pyramids. Although I have adventured with Saint-Germain in Renaissance Florence, where he was known as Francesco Ragoczy da San Germano, ("The Palace"); as Prinz Ragoczy of Transylvania in Paris, 1743, at the court of King Louis XV, ("Hotel Transylvania"); and as Ragoczy Sanct' Germain Franciscus, an import/shipping magnate living in the Rome of Emperor Nero, ("Blood Games"), I have learned little of the millennia he spent in Egypt - until now! With "Out of the House of Life," Ms. Yarbro takes the reader back to the time of our hero's origins - a period when man was much newer to the earth - over 6000 years ago.

He was thought to be a demon and chained in an underground dungeon in Ninevah and Babylon. He was sold to the High Priest of Judea and then given, as tribute, to the Pharaoh Hatshepsut. Shipped with other slaves to Egypt - once called the Black Land - he was sent to serve the god at the Temple of Imhotep in Memphis, the House of Life, a sanctuary for the dying. It is here that the vampire, (now known as Saint-Germain), rises over the centuries from a despised slave to a learned physician and then becomes "Sanh Zhrman," the wise high priest of Imhotep.

Sanh Zhrman's tale is interwoven with that of his beloved Madelaine de Montalia's, whom he met in eighteenth century France. There they loved passionately and when her life was endangered to the point of death, he made her immortal. Madelaine has joined an archeological expedition to fulfill a lifelong dream to explore Egyptian ruins, and hopefully to discover the ancient site of the House of Life. She finds, along with treasures and secrets long buried beneath the desert sands, danger from grave robbers, serpents, scorpions, and most of all from her expedition leader and his cohorts. Mlle. Montalia also discovers temporary love, and a means to quench her thirst, with the handsome mortal Dr. Falke.

The correspondence between Saint-Germain and Montalia is the device through which the narrative unfolds.

I'm hooked on Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's Comte de Saint-Germain series. The emphasis in these novels is on well written historical fiction rather than on the usual vampire fare. If you envision Saint Germain as a being like those who people Anne Rice's or Laurell Hamilton's novels you will have a surprise coming. Just an aside here...I love many of Ms Rice's and Ms. Hamilton's books and characters. Ms. Yarbro's hero is simply different. He IS a hero, not an anti-hero. You won't find fangs, gore, horror and supernatural violence here. He does need blood to survive, as does Madelaine - but the human donor must be willing to give a pint or two or these vampires won't drink. And true emotional attachments nourish Saint-Germain and Madelaine as much as the blood they take. So the concept of "love" and affection figure strongly in their eternal lives.

"Out of the House of Life" is rich in characters, historical detail, storyline and suspense. I highly recommend it.
JANA

Hey Uncle Tom. I love your book, The Rain. It was suspenseful,chilling, and to me has much potential for a movie one day. The characters were very easy to relate to and the plot was very unique. We love you and know you have lot's of support from us here up in Maryland. And I can't wait to read your future books! =)

I thought i had it figured out from the begining, boy was i wrong. I loved the ending. Could not stop when i started, had to know the end. I think this would make a good sf movie!
D.E.M Hugo North Carolina

Wish I wasn't a fast reader - couldn't put it down. I was worried how the book was going to end, and was pleasantly surprised. Keep up the good work Mr. Brandner, hope to see many more books written by you.

Budding author Tom Brandner has set the benchmark high for himself with the release of his first and thoroughly captivating literary work, "The Rain". This tale of good vs. evil will hold you in it's grasp from chilling cover to cover. If you are a fan of horror and suspense as I am, "The Rain" is a must for your personal library. Congratulations Mr. Brandner, you've succeeded in keeping me up all night!

I was very impressed with this first book from Mr. Brandner. I had a hard time tearing myself away. I can't wait to see his next work!

My first experience with zombie cartoons and i am totally blown away. The story is so cute and I can see it actually happening, The artwork is fantastic and I simply must have more.... common Fingerman, write another...

I held off on buying Recess Pieces because the idea of little kids and zombies seemed a bit whacked out. Well, now that I have the book, I can confirm it IS whacked out. And oh, how gloriously whacked out it is!
I cannot highly recommend this graphic novel enough. Bob Fingerman knows how to blend the innocence and agonizing pain of childhood with the grim brutality of the dead coming back to life in a concoction that is wickedly tasty and grim while keeping the laughs coming at a breakneck pace.
To compare this to any of the other zombie graphic novels I have read would not be fair. This is simply different than all the rest. If I was forced to put it side by side with "The Walking Dead" and the like, I could only say that there is definitely room for the likes of this and TWD on the same shelf, while many of the other brooding "adult" tales of undead apocalypse would get honorable mention. This would be one of the first works I would recommend to a newcomer to the realm of zombie fiction.
The basic premise is a grade school taken over by zombies after a science experiment goes bad. The adults all turn, as do the older kids, but most of the younger children are spared, though it is certain that they too can be munched on by the ravenous zombies that now roam the school halls.
This story certainly has motivated me to check out more of Fingerman's works, because if he displays even half of the wit and verve he had for this subject with his other stories, they will be well worth the investment.

Who'd think cute-as-a-button kids and glistening viscera would combine so nicely? A science lab experiment (that will run awry, needless to say) begins the book, as we then are introduced to the young, resourceful, and exceedingly smart-mouthed cast of "Recess Pieces." No detail of existence in the behavioral sink known as "school" goes unsatirized, from the institutional green-hued décor, prisonlike setup, power-struggles among the inmates and their keepers, absurdly out-of-it attempts by the latter to be hip.

The shambling flesh-munchers make their appearance slowly, Fingerman setting the scene, laying out characterizations. There's not a lazy line in this book, even minor background characters carefully individualized, and the painted art - for those more familiar with Fingerman's line drawings in this noted alternative comics creator's other books - is lushly rendered, as the earlier mention of "glistening viscera" hints.

Comedy abounds as well as thrills, the young 'uns attempting to arm themselves against the onslaught of the undead:

"...Safety scissors with rounded blade? Six-inch ruler?..."

"This crayon is pretty sharp..."

The man's got a way with dialogue, words both kid-like and urbanly wisecracking adding much to the goings-on. I'm reminded of the richly rolling dialogue by Paddy ("Marty") Chayefsky, yang to Mamet's spare yin.

Trapped in a room by zombies, the kids speak thus:

Wendy: "I don't know if I can do this."

Lisa: "We're just kids."

Bobby: "Just kids? Just kids? Grownups think we're sweetness and innocence, but we know better, don't we? We're pure id, untamed and unfettered by conscience. We're petty and cruel. Let's use that to our advantage."

Crisp wit, characters you care about, juicy, top-of-the-line art, and zombies...what's not to like?

The answer is, oddly enough, yes. Bob Fingerman captures the dynamic of school yard interactions to great effect. The characterization of the children is in the vein of Peanuts and Calvin & Hobbes... they are ruthlessly witty and innocent at the same time. Insightful commentaries on childhood, genre clichés and the inadequacies of the public school system are peppered throughout the narrative, but never feel forced or preachy. Not to worry, though, there are plenty of gory and horrific scenes of dismembered bodies being devoured by newly minted ghouls to satisfy any zombie fan. If that wasn't enough, it's all drawn in a lush, full color style that is reminiscent of his work on the Minimum Wage covers but with a lighter, more nimble line that indicates further mastery of his craft. It's a great read that I can't recommend highly enough. I hope that there are further adventures in the works...

unbelievable! Bob F. is one of the best draftsmen on earth,and his tale
of adorable kids covered in shiny, spilled guts.... is second to none.

seriously,if you like comics,especially by people who can really draw and paint
their cajones off...you need Recess Pieces! It's funny,nasty,and insanely gorgeous to
gaze at...and! This is a nice ,thin little hardback you can slap into your backpack and take with you on a trip..like I'm(seriously) doing in a few minutes.

peace.

Read this for the first time last week - flied through the book wondering what was going to happen. Mr. King [..]into his world from the beginning. Ben and Mark were great characters, as was Straker and Barlow. And that's why I didn't give Salem's Lot 5 stars. I wanted more information on Straker and Barlow, especially Barlow. There were some interesting tidbits of information about him, but just like Mr. King spent a considerable amount of time getting the reader to know the community and its more interesting "townies"...I would have loved a chapter or two on Barlow and Straker. I would have like to have gotten into their heads a bit more. The really interesting thing about this novel is that there is only one vampire involved, and he's not "that" involved in the story. It's everyone else that makes the story engaging. The kid was my favorite character. Great creation.
Overall...highly recommended horror novel - a classic!

This paperback was loaned to me many years ago by a co-worker who knew that I love horror novels. This book scared me more than anything I had ever read before, and it raised the bar for all horror novels I would read in the future. I have read every book by Stephen King since then. When people ask me to name my favorite scary novel, I always say Salem's Lot. I can't help but compare all other horror novels to it, and unfortunately most of them pale in comparison.

"Salem's Lot" is the second novel written by Stephen King. At that time to write a novel took him around two years. He wasn't as prolific as he now is and his "writing formula" was new to him and to the readers.
I first read this book when it was just edited and enjoyed it a lot. Before reviewing it I carefully reread it and still receive the jolts of King's unique style, even knowing beforehand what was going to happen.

King took vampires myth and situated it not in a far land, not far in the past, but in our time in a little Maine's town.
The author takes his time to depict every character minutely. He draws the general picture of everyday life in a small town. In Spanish we have a saying: "Small town, big inferno" and that's exactly what happens in Salem's Lot.
When the reader is well acquainted with the town's people, horror starts to creep little by little, trapping first one, then other townsfolk, putting the village under siege.
A small heterogeneous group tries to combat evil with all their strength. Will they succeed? Well you must read the book to know it.

If you are a fan on horror novels you will not be disappointed. King IS the best horror storyteller of the present times.
His trade mark is: being one of the "good people" is not enough to keep the character safe, so the reader keeps wondering "who will be next?"
It is great book for lovers of the genre!

Reviewed by Max Yofre.

This was the second Stephen King novel I ever read, but it has been the one to keep me up the longest. The novel is very engrossing. I was only 13 when I read it the first time, so it was not entirely understood, but enough was understood to make me sleep with a light on. I reread this book every Halloween and it still sends shivers down my spine.

Until Stephen King happened along the horror genre had languished, continually put down by a variety of critics in the so-called mainstream. King broke into print with "Carrie," and quickly followed up his initial success with a quasi-gothic story of a modern vampire. King's story brought new life into stories of vampires, firing the memories of those who fondly remembered the TV soap "Dark Shadows."

King sets his story in the small Maine town of Jerusalem's Lot. King starts his story by detailing the recent and not-so-recent past of many of the denizens of Jerusalem's Lot. It also becomes apparent to the reader that the residents of Jerusalem's Lot are so caught up in their own petty problems and evils, including nosing into the lives of others, that they are unable to see the real evil that has come into their midst.

Rising above the concerns of the typical townspeople are Ben Mears, a young author with thus far minor success in the publishing world, Mark Petrie, a boy who would have been remarkable in any setting, Matthew Burke, an aging teacher who wonders whether he has made any real difference in the world, and Father Callahan, a priest who has either lost his faith or is on the very edge of doing so. While the team is small, they are the few who are capable of leading the fight against the vampire who is slowly taking over the town, person by person.

On the other side of the fence are Mr. Barlow and Mr. Straker. We wonder early on whether there really is a Mr. Straker and though we know the story of Salem's Lot well enough to know there is a vampire, we wonder whether we are going to be fooled by some literary slight of hand.

Stephen King's success in this story comes not from the tale of the vampire, but by imbuing Salem's Lot the town with life, which King was able to do well because of his own personal knowledge of small town life in the northeast. The reader must believe in the dozens of mundane individuals that inhabit the town; how absolutely normal it all seems. Yet, there is an undercurrent of foreboding because there were already bad things in this town long before the vampire arrived. King has wrought a novel that is easy to dismiss at the beginning, but is rewarding for those that allow the characters to develop.

I consider this novel one of the best vampire novels ever written, and easily worth five stars.