Horror Books

This is a wonderful book for children who love history, or if you want an educational as well as thrilling novel to read.

In this book, ten-year-old Andrea "Andy" is at her grandfather's house in the small, country town of Moose Jaw to be a junior bridesmaid in her cousin's wedding. But, her grandfather and crazy Aunt Bea want to show her something, recently strange underground tunnels have been discovered dug under to the town of Moose Jaw connecting the houses and business.
As Andy's grandfather is showing her a tunnel, she accidently slips and knocks herself out. When she awakes, she is being drug down the tunnel by a strange boy. Andy figures out that she has traveled through time back to the 1920's.
Andy then must use her skills to help a boy named Vance and his sister Beanie outsmart a bunch of gangsters, even Al Capone who are currently using the tunnels to transport illegal alcohol.

Will Andy outsmart the gangsters and help Vance and Beanie? What is the secret that Andy's grandfather and Aunt Beanie hiding from her? And what will happen to them?

This is quite an adventures read. Older readers are sure to figure out the plot and secret of this book by the first few chapters.

~~~Kat

I read this book for a book review in my class, I read more than half the book in one night! I started out reading a couple of pages then a couple more then I couldn't put it down. Mary Harlekin Bishop made me feel like was down in the tunnels with Andrea. This book was so well written that I could picture everything in my head, even the terrible Scarface. This is by far the best book I have ever read. I strongly recommend Tunnels of Time to anyone who likes a good adventure/mystery story. And by the way, I just bought the second book Tunnels of Terror, so far it is very interesting.

This book is one of the best books I have ever read in my whole entire life. This story starts off on a car ride to Moose Jaw and instantly becomes a non-stop ride into your imagination. I loved this book, the author explained every little detail to its fullest. You can't help but get yourself pulled into the mystery of the tunnels as you read and re-read this amazing novel!!! If you ever need an excuse to start reading about Andreas thrilling trip into the past use this one because I can guarintee you that, along with not being dissapointed, you will absolutly "LOVE" this book and want to read it over and over again...

This book is very well written, except for a lengthy ending which also turns out awesome, and the length is acceptable. Reading the story I also travel back in time, that is how well written it is. Being from Moose Jaw it is extra special to me, but anyone who has heard of Big Al will find it amazing. You can almost experience what the characters in the book are experiencing, which is both good and bad. The positives far out weigh the negatives and it would be a shame to pass up the opportunity of reading this book, even if you have to borrow it from a friend. Under 300 pages it doesn't take forever to read it either. It took me a week, but if I wasn't in school at the same time I could have read it all on a Saturday-Sunday combo, although it can be more suspenseful by reading it over a longer period of time. You leave the experience feeling a debt to the author, and the reasonable price for this book when purchasing it turns into the author giving you much more then you payed. Treat yourself to this book.

I read this book for the first time in spring of 2000, I was enthralled. I have probably read this book fifty or so times since then and I continue to be fascinated with it each time. The story brings a rather strong moral with its mystery and adventure. The young girl who finds herself lost in the past realises how important families really are. This book is filled with adventure and danger, but it does not cross the boundaries of these qualities. The other thing that I enjoyed about this book was... the setting. In small town Moose Jaw who would have thought all these wild things reallly happened! The plot sparks your imagination and I could truly relate to the charactors. All the makings of a good book. It demontrated the true power of words, in a meaningful way. I was always a big reader, but after I read this book I think it inspired me even more. I certainly recommend this book , it is an amazing novel.

This is the fourth installment in Permuted Press' franchise of zombie thrillers THE UNDEAD. This time around, Permuted has collected four of their best writers and given them a little more room to stretch out the scares in a novella format. And they make excellent use of the extra pages. My two favorites in this anthology were D.L. Snell's "Mortal Gods" and David Dunwoody's "Lost Souls." Fans of Snell's first novel, Roses of Blood on Barbwire Vines, will enjoy the wildly unique zombies in "Mortal Gods," which may very have the best opening of any story I have read in the past few years. And if you somehow managed to miss David Dunwoody's stories in the first three volumes of The Undead, "Lost Souls" is a great chance to see what he is capable of writing. Read this one, then check out his opening story in "History is Dead," his unique and genuinely disturbing take on a familiar fairy tale in Read by Dawn II, and his first published story, "Grinning Samuel," and you'll find yourself with a new favorite author. I've read most of his published works now and he hasn't missed yet.

The other two stories were also very good. John Sunseri has already proven himself to be an excellent short story writer, and now, with "Million Dollar Money Shot," shows he can thrill us at longer lengths, too. I don't know if he's ever gone to Aruba, but his fast-paced tale does a great job of generating a sense of place. Sunseri's story is followed by Ryan C. Thomas' tale "Enemy Unseen." Nice voodoo elements in this one, which sets it apart from the other three tales. Also, I think, we may see this one as a full blown novel someday. There's enough to this one to justify some added length.

Overall, a top-notch anthology from four outstanding authors. Definitely worth the investment.

Million Dollar Money Shot by John Senseri - Vince, a hitman for the mob on the run flies to the small island of Aruba, only to be trapped on the island when the wave of zombies begin staggering from their graves. In a hotel hideout he meets Tabitha, a former prostitute, just before the hotel is taken over. On the run for their lives, they hook up with Father Willem and young Oscar, also running for their lives. Worse than the zombies, though, are the things that are coming up out of the ocean. In a unique tale of zombies with a scintillating touch of Lovecraft's Cthulhu, Senseri spins a tightly woven, non-stop action story. Well worth the read.

Enemy Unseen by Ryan C. Thomas - Rhonda, a CIA analyst and desk jockey, is sent on assignment to the Cuban district of the New York City slums. She's attempting to discover the identity of a mysterious man in a satellite photo, last seen with two notorious drug dealers. Rhonda finds out more than she ever wanted to, not just the mystery man but his connections to the Santeria religion, Vodun religion from Haiti, and what the bokor are. In a tense tale of espionage, voodoo, and agile zombies, Ryan Thomas has written an interesting and entertaining account of a new order of zombies and their terrifying leader. Well worth the read.

Lost Souls by David Dunwoody - Dane, a sculptor, and his girlfriend Kara, a painter, head off to a quaint cabin ("A page out of early American History") with an adjacent cemetery. Tagging along with them is Dane's best friend Casey. There's something wrong with the house, and something wrong with the cemetery. Immediately ghostly apparitions begin appearing, but they have the capability of hurting people. Kara, after finding an old journal, visits the town library to dig up the secrets of the cemetery. She finds there used to be a parish on the property, and finds disturbing information on Pastor Scott Mark. She discovers the LS on five gravestones links five wealthy men together, all dying tragically. But what can this information mean? With apparitions, ghostly zombies, an evil presence, and a dead deviant pastor, this story has a vaguely gothic feel to it, giving a fresh twist on the typical zombie tale. Well worth the read.

Mortal Gods by D.L. Snell - A man wakes up in an alley with a bloody head and no memory except the word "blue". Nearby, a woman is being attacked by zombies. Then two more people show up, a blonde woman (Halo) and a large black man (Brimstone), who kick b*tt on the zombies and take Blue with them. They take him to meet The Crow, a shape-shifting shaman. Halo is psychic and has the ability to heal, Brimstone is super strong, and both recognize that Blue has extraordinary talents even though Blue himself doesn't remember what they are or how to use them. Together, they know its up to them to lay waste to the epidemic of zombies infecting the world. But without Blue's memories, they need to find how and where to begin the battle. Snell has written an intriguing tale of superheros vs zombies, filled with extraordinary adventures. Well worth the read.

'Headshot Quartet' is a great addition to your zombie collection. Highly recommended. Enjoy!

Once again Permuted Press does not let down. Four tales of zombie madness. each one is different and the collection as a whole manages to put a few new twists on the good ol' zombie genre. Good reading right here friends. Read or die!

THE UNDEAD: HEADSHOT QUARTET is the fourth installment in Permuted Press highly entertaining zombie anthology series THE UNDEAD. This installment marks a departure from the regular form in that normally books in the UNDEAD series contain short stories rather than long fiction. But, as the name implies, HEADSHOT QUARTET is a collection of four zombie novellas with varying themes and styles that compliment each other quite well. Let's take a look at them shall we?

Million Dollar Money Shot by John Sunseri- Vince has a problem. Once, a few days and a lifetime ago, he was a hit man. But since then, things have changed. Now he's in Aruba on the run from his former employers with a bit of their money and the dead have stopped dying and are hungry for human flesh. And that's not the worst part. The worst part are the angry, tough as nails fish men that come out of the sea at night.

This novella grabbed me from page one and didn't let go until I was about halfway through the next tale. Sunseri's prose is very engaging, easy to read, and highly entertaining. The tale is a real page turner, starting off strong and not letting up even at the end. The characters are all believable, the dialogue is realistic, and the story overall is very satisfying as part of this collection or as a stand alone. All in all "Million Dollar Money Shot" is a perfect contribution to the UNDEAD series.

Enemy Unseen by Ryan C. Thomas- CIA analyst and Cuban specialist Rhonda White has just been handed her first field assignment: to find the name of a man who has been seen with drug smugglers and gun runners. Seems simple enough right? Wrong. Soon enough Rhonda is up to her neck in the living dead, Voodoo rituals, and a new biological weapon that could mean the end of the world as we know it.

Thomas's style holds the readers attention and manages to weave a very interesting tale to boot. The story, while a bit slower paced than its predecessor, is no less engaging. The interpersonal dynamic between White and the agent assigned to help her as well as that with her superiors adds a very nice layered feel to the tale, though at novella length it feels as if it is a bit rushed. Enemy Unseen would have worked better as a longer piece, though it manages to come across quite well all on its own.

Lost Souls by David Dunwoody- Three art students on a winter vacation to an isolated New England cabin are looking for a retreat from everything, with a chance to work on their individual thesis. Instead, what they find is an old cabin with a past, a cemetery haunted by the surprisingly real corpses of it's occupants, and land whose very earth is cursed. Will any of them make it out alive?

For fans of Dunwoody's previous work, particularly his tale "Grinning Samuel" in THE UNDEAD, you won't find any better tale in this collection than "Lost Souls". While not my personal favorite out of the four offerings, there is a lot to enjoy here. The story is well paced, the dialogue is very interesting, and there are just enough scares and splatter to appease the most die-hard hardcore horror fan.

Mortal Gods by D.L. Snell- A young man with no memory, no name, and the ability to make objects magically appear out of thin air teams up with a psychic and a strong man to save the world (or at least their city) from the living dead , giant spiders, and Lovecraft-ian beasts. Will his search for his identity lead them to a solution to the problem of the living dead? Or will any of them survive long enough to find out?

Ever present in THE UNDEAD series, Snell once again delivers his special brand of cross trope zombie fiction. This time he combines not only zombies and tentacles, as he did in ROSES OF BLOOD, but he has also mixed in super heros, psychics, and maniacal Fulci dreamscapes. All of this in lesser hands could lead to a very muddled mess, especially in the shortened length of a novella, but it is a testament to the talent of Mr. Snell that it manages not only to work as a novella, but as a damn good story to boot.

All said, HEADSHOT QUARTET is one hell of a collection and deserves a place on your shelf, preferably right next to your copies of the other UNDEAD books. This collection is amazing, and in my opinion is the best contribution to this series since the first collection. Definitely a buy.

(This review first posted by myself over at [...])

The latest installment of the Undead anthologies consists of four novellas that take us in four new directions for loads of zombie fun.
While each story is unique, at least three of them have anywhere from a scent to a full blown flavor of HP Lovecraft. I loved reading Lovecraft years ago and Million Dollar Money Shot in particular ties in well with the whole Lovecraftian Mythos. I felt that Lost Souls, with its dark and foreboding New England setting also had a hint of Lovecraft to it, and Mortal Gods ties in with DL Snells novel Roses of Blood on Barbwire Vines, which seemed pretty heavily influenced by good 'ol HP as well. Enemy Unseen takes things in a slightly different direction, with traditional voodoo instead of a more Romeroesque approach to the undead.
Overall, this was a fun read and my desires to criticize each story fairly limited. Yes, I could have seen one or two of the stories being served well if they were full blown novels but each author was able to put together a pretty nice tale, mostly with less than 100 pages each.
Overall, a great compilation and I look forward to more novellas like this one in future editions of "The Undead".

Ever thought vampires could actually have compassion? After reading Vampire Lover, one may reconsider. Vampire Lover, through its wit, suspense and gore, gives us a sense of how becoming a vampire can accentuate the traits a charater had prior to the transformation into the "undead." In its clash or harmony among the four main characters (Vera, Bone, Harry/Harriet and Fibs), we're shown that he who appears to be ugly or horrific may turn out to be angelic and that she who appears to be weak may actually be quite powerful, whether in the sense of heroism or evil. The rich interplay and unfoldment of drama and suspense all lead to a grand finale that made this book impossible to put down. Vampire Lover is a wonderful blend of dark humor, humanity and sheer horror.

This book was great. It had the right blend of genre you would want. It starts out with the main characters not knowing each other even exists. Then by the end, everyone has interacted one way or another. Leading up to a great finale. This is my take on them:

Vera: A non-physically strong woman. And great character

Bone (Gary): He's a troubled soul with a heart of gold.

Little Fibs: Reminds me of a lot of girls I've dated. Great to know at first. But a real pain in the ***/hellraiser once you know what she's all about.

Harry: A vampire with rules. They're they're the best kind. Leave no traces.

Harriet: In the wrong place at the wrong time...you'll see.

I really like the book. It was great. And the pictures would awesome. Added to the flavor of the book.

Zoon's "Vampire Lover" is an excellent read.
While not an avid reader of the Horror genre, I found the setting fascinating, the characters well-rounded, and the language smooth and compulsively readable. I would definitely recommend this book. And the author's impressive paintings interspersed throughout the text are a rare indulgence.

My husband, Tim, bought this book before leaving to go to Iraq. But he forgot to take it with him, and one night I started reading it and I didn't want to put it down. Just like the time I read the Exorcist, when I got to the scary parts I couldn't stop reading.

The scary parts start in the beginning with Harry and Harriet and go right to the end with the the two heroes. It takes place in an ocean amusement park that is closed for the winter, and pretty soon all hell breaks out for everybody. I use to like to walk on the beach at night, but not anymore. The story seemed real like Interview with a Vampire (I only saw the movie). I sometimes wonders if there isn't some truth in vampires.

Anyway I sent it to my husband to read I hope he likes it as much as I did. I would tell anyone to buy it .

Alison Kellie

I'm a major vampire fan, I became hooked on the genre when I was 12 and read Brahm Stoker's Dracula, and the hook was set with Hammer's Vampires - 46 years later and still dangling.

Mostly though I'd been totally disappointed until Anne Rice, and then, well let's just say some things need to just die.

Susan Zoon has revived the Vampire, she's removed the stake and has let it loose in a very modern tale. This is a vampire's story of horror, greed, lust, blood, gore, love - yes even love.

Go away if you're looking for the flowery romanticism of Lestat or the Count, you won't find it here. Her fantastic illustrations alone will tell you that we're not dealing with a spin off of the aforementioned toothless vampires.

The characters are all very real, the location perfect and the surrounding events provide the atmosphere to tell such a tale. Zoon's details read like a film that plays in your head.

VL is about the very nature of good and evil, especially the personification of evil when the earthly chains are removed, and even evil's struggle with itself. It's them against us, and right now the score is tied.

Jerry Wennerstrom

In the beginning under the alliance of the Spanish Inquisition there was a group of Vampire mercenaries known as the Scarlet Order. They were used as soldiers to bring down the Ottoman Empire and any other enemy the Pope of that time period deemed necessary.

The master vampire Lord Draco is the Knight Commander of The Scarlet Order, he and his team of vampires carry out the tasks laid before them. But after three centuries of working for the Inquisition, the newest Pope Pius VII decided it was time to break the alliance because these vampires were demons and have been draining the Church's funds for far too long. The Scarlet Order vampires each went a new way for centuries they would not have contact...until someone begins trying to form a new breed of vampires.

Marcella, Mercedes "Mercy", Jane, Daniel, Drake, Rudolfo and a few other secondary vampires must team together to stop whoever is trying to make a new breed of super-soldier vampires. If too many of these creatures are created and must live on blood, eventually the humans will disappear leaving the vampires without sustenance causing them to die out completely from starvation. With the help of the Manitou that appear in oversized forms of a Spider, Beaver, and Coyote the small group of the new warrior vampires learn there are more secrets that have yet been untold.

David Lee Summers' novel Vampires of the Scarlet Order is has a new take on vampires like none that I have ever read. It intermingles stories from history, to present day in the form of diary, journal or notes written by the vampires. I must admit Marcella's story about Billy the Kid was my very favorite vampire "beginning." Vampires of the Scarlet Order has a little bit of everything for every paranormal reader to enjoy, science, astronomy, war, love, and even the occasional lusty bite. Mr. Summers is an extraordinary writer and with this novel he defiantly delivers a tale that is near impossible to put down. 5 Hearts

Are you tired of vampires as simple monsters? The problem I've always had with most vampire stories is suspension of disbelief. I can't believe vampires that a writer doesn't make real for me. How about some kind of explaination of their origins? How about portraying them as real people with emotions, values, goals and morals? Thank you, David Lee Summers! This is a fascinating and historical account. The blending of their world with Christian origins, and with Native American beliefs is awesome. Yes, an astronomer could be a vampire. In fact, it would be almost the perfect job. Yes, they'd have to be involved with politics.

Any of you who have started watching the new TV series, 'Moonlight' and liked it, read 'Vampires of the Scarlett Order' and ask yourself if the producers and writers haven't read Summers. A private eye vampire would fit right into the world he pioneered. Maybe we're going to see the mainstream follow David's lead now.

Well written, flowing and most definatly a new twist on an old idea. Anyone into Sci Fi or Vampire esque reading should take a look at this one.
Definatly a two day read, you will get lost in it quickly.

How many people know that Bram Stoker, the creator of Dracula, was an Irishman? They all know about Yeats and Wilde and Shaw - but few know that Bram Stoker was born in Dublin. Being an Irishman myself, I've always felt ownership of the vampire story, Bella Lugosi's Transylvanian accent notwithstanding.

In Vampires of the Scarlet Order David Lee Summers has raised the vampire story away from those simple, but dramatic, tales of blood-sucking creatures of the evening who return to their coffins in the morning. He chronicles a parallel vampire world that has marched through the momentous events of our history, starting in 15th century Europe and emerging in contemporary times in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Ah, Las Cruces, The Crosses, what a potent image and location for his family of vampires.

Starting in Spain in 1491, we meet Lord Draco who heads a group of vampire mercenaries, The Scarlet Order, operating for the Vatican. (Yes, Dan Brown isn't original when it comes to Vatican conspiracies and skulduggery). Lord Draco turns Rodolfo de Cordoba, a young Castillian who has lost his father in the war with the Moors, into a vampire and initiates him into the Scarlet Order.

We move through dramatic events of the 16th to the 20th centuries with a surprise waiting especially for me in the 16th century when Lord Draco and Rudolfo de Cordoba meet the legendary Irish Sea Captain and Pirate, Grace O'Malley (Granuaille) in the late 16th century - in the middle of the battle for Venice between the fleet of the Ottoman Empire and the fleet of the Pope's Holy Roman Empire. (Granuaille still 'lives' here in the west of Ireland - the castle she shared with one of her partners, Donal O'Flaherty, is now a fine up-market hotel!).

Reaching the present time in New Mexico we find the canvas enlarged to capture another parallel universe where the Manitou of the Native Americans act as guides to The Scarlet Order as they fight secret government agencies operating out of the Los Alamos laboratories who are creating their own brand of soldier, scientifically designed to incorporate the abilities of the vampire.

David Lee Summers' dialogue is believable, his storytelling strong, his artistry strengthened by his scientific background as an astronomer. He has used a diary-like method of telling the story, much of it told in the first person from the points of view of each of the central characters in the story. This is difficult to do without interrupting story continuity for the reader. But he has accomplished it by making us care about the characters, about making us feel sympathy for a vampire who has just killed and is suffering remorse and loss of human existence.

Just like a master chef, David Lee Summers, folds all these ingredients together in a totally seamless way. If you like the world of vampires, you'll like Vampires of The Scarlet Order.

Taking advantage of the unique powers and abilities of vampires, over the centuries an elite corps of vampires have operated as assassins. Now, at the start of the twenty-first century, vampires are too expensive and too much trouble for governments to hire them anymore.

This is the premise in a truly fresh tale about vampires. The story spans a time period over eight hundred years, but the climax of the story takes place in New Mexico. Here, the government has changed its tactics and now wants super soldiers made from technology, rather than vampires, to do its dirty deeds. What is a vampire to do?

I just bought this book at Borders for $2.99, and it's definitely worth the $2.99--the print work itself is worth it. Five bucks, maybe not, but $2.99, sure. Like the novel, it is written in epistolary fashion. Corenelius Van Helsing is purportedly the brother of Abraham and he's following up on the supposed death of Dracula. There are pop ups and odd stuff galore, such as the "wolf hair' in the envelope that the other reviewer mentions, as well as lockets featuring Mina and Jonathan. I would not have bought this if Dracula were not my favorite novel, but I think it would be a fun thing to give as a gift--esp. if you give Halloween gifts like I do. Vlad the Impaler is also mentioned, so it's apparent that the authors are familiar with both the novel and some of the history surrounding the story. This was located in the children's section of the store, which I think may be a poor audience choice and part of the reason for the discounted price.

I bought this book for my 9 year old son and 12 year old daughter for Halloween. It was so neat that I went ahead and gave it to them early. They love this book! It has all sorts of neat little notes and windows to open up. My son loved the wolf hair. Great book for kids and adults.

This book is the lost journal of a vampire hunter, Cornelius Van Helsing, related to the Van Helsing from Bram Stoker's Dracula. In involves references to Johnathan and Mina Harker with a twist. The book's layout is similar to that of the Ology books (dragonology, wizardology, Egyptology, and Pirateology). This book explores the legend and lore of the vampire from which Bram Stoker himself created his novel. It seems like something for a kid but it's imaginative design makes it worth it to get for teens and adults as well. There is also a surprise at the end so read the pages carefully.

Cornelius Van Helsing has no intention of following in his famous brother's footsteps, until his brother falls prey to a mysterious illness which Cornelius suspects may be due to a Vampyre. And so, this reluctant adventurer sets out with his man-servant Gustav to discover if his brother's arch nemesis is truly dead. This "journal" alternates between Cornelius and Gustav, providing different takes on the sinister events that unfold. The book is beautifully presented with plenty of interactives like hidden letters which you have to rub in order to access their secrets, and wonderfully detailed pop-ups. I would highly recommend this to any vampyre enthusiast whether they be in the 9-12 year old range or even adults.

Okay, I'm 34 and I bought this for myself. I was a little surprised to see that it is aimed at the 9-12 crowd. I LOVE it though. Finished it quickly and then went through it again to take in all the details. Nice stuff. A little dark for the young'uns though. I enjoyed that it is presented as a story rather than a "fact" book. Lots of goodies to enjoy. Highly recommended!

Graphical, suspenseful with an effective flow--- grabs the reader from the beginning to the end.

Although supernatural, the choice of characters, writing style and rhythm make the reader forget about the reality and feel like it is almost plausible at times.

I must say this is the first book I read in this genre. I was not sure whether I could be interested at all, and whether I was brave enough to read it through. But the first few pages grabbed me and I was hooked.

Highly recommend it for an eerie ride.

This excellent suspense novel about the chilling times of rampant witchery. I think everyone should demand the publisher release this on audio tape so as to allow it to reach a wider audience who would love this folksy novel.

For admirers of Stephen King's incredibly horrifying books, and of other authors who write in a similar vein, "Vengeance" comes highly recommended. ... Still, when one reads "Vengeance," one should be sure to turn on all of the lights in the house --- and don't forget to pull all the shades down tight.

Great book. The story keeps you in suspense until the end and surprises you along the way. Can't wait for Bilicska's next book.

This is a suspenseful and well-crafted tale of witchery and wickedness centered around Dudleytown Connecticut, the most haunted spot in New England. It follows protagonist Josh Anson and episodes that unfold as he destroys Vengeance and saves the world. A Blair Witch meets the Haunting on Hill House.

As an avid horror fan, I must say Vincent Price is the long-standing king of horror. When I think of horror movies, he immediately comes to mind. Finally, a book that specializes in the work of a true master who truly loved his work. Having recently purchased this, I look forward to mulling through its contents and watching the many films of "The Master of the Macabre." Long live Vincent Price!!!

True fans of Vincent Price don't really care whether or not we're watching something badly made like SCREAM AND SCREAM AGAIN or some auteur-approved masterpiece like TOMB OF LIGEIA. As long as Vincent Price is in it, hamming it up and acting all others right off the screen we are in hog heaven. It's a strange, fervid fraternity and way back when someone started calling us The Price Club and the name just stuck.

Denis Meikle has given us a book that clears up some of the myths surrounding Price's career, but he seems determined to create a new one, based somewhat on Victoria's great book. His thesis is that the McCarthy hearings and the "graylist" of which Price was the victim made him scared that he would never work again, so that afterwards, from the mid 1950s on, he consented to appear in any piece of schlock if the "price was right." Again and again he evinces this theory to explain, for example, why VP appeared as "Egghead" on TV's BATMAN. Price himself often stated that he wanted money to but more modern art with, but Meikle discounts this simple explanation.

I am the proud owner of a signed copy of Price's awesome book THE ART IN MY LIFE and I think that he indeed loved art and that he wasn't just "running scared" from the HUAC police.

But everyone deserves a forum for their views and Meikle makes a good case for his.

When I was a kid way, way back in the late sixties to the early
seventies I never failed to catch a great Price film on the late night Creature Features. This book is hard to put down.
Dennis Meikle does'nt white wash the Master of Menace, nor present him in any unfavorable light. All of Price's successes
and failings are told here in a very respectful manner. As a
matter of fact there were some parts of Price's life I did'nt want to know. This is the story of a great actor the likes of whom we will never ever see again. Well illustrated. A really
excellent book.

I just finished reading this excellent book on Vincent Price. It concentrates just on his work in the horror film genre which is primarly what he is remembered for. Denis Meikle follows Vincent's career chronologically film by film, giving details of the production as well as what was going on in Price's life at the time. While this is not an exhaustive work on this wonderful actor, it makes a great companion piece to his daughter's book "Vincent Price: A Daughter's Biography" which covers his personal life and Lucy Chase Williams' excellent "The Complete Films of Vincent Price" which covers all his film output. All together, these tell the story of one of the last true renaissance men. Recommended.

Vincent Price came into horror films by way of the studio system. His body of work is amazing, and he showed a fine sense of comedic timing in His Kind of Woman, with Robert Mitchum and Jane Russell, playing an OTT hammy actor. Later this tough for droll comedy would show in two gems - The Raven and The Comedy of Terrors. However, he really gathered attention in 1952 with House of Wax. After that wonderful performance, it was non stop fun all the way.

Many of his films were for William Castle or Roger Corman, and often considered Drive-In fodder - such as The Fly, The Bat, House on Haunted Hill. It was the series of Poe movies that firmly linked the word horror to Price - and I think it was a term he enjoyed completely. At the time the Corman-Price-Poe series of movies - The Pit and The Pendulum (with Scream Queen Barbara Steele), House of Usher, Tomb of Ligeia, Masque of the Red Death, Haunted Palace (which was really Lovecraft not Poe, but what the hey...) were often dismissed. But looking back, you will see finely crafted horror films that are still a pleasure to what now, with many of Price's wonderful performances.

Even later, he continued to seek out this same spotlight with the campy Theatre of Blood and the Dr. Phibes duo of films or the more serious Cry of the Banshee and Conqueror Worm (one of his most underrated performances).

He scared us with a gentle boo, mesmerising with that voice, thrilled us with the wondrous menacing laugh, enchanted us with his devilish twinkle in his eye...he entertained us cooking fish in his dishwasher on Johnny Carson.

His legacy lives and this is wonderful tribute to the master! Loaded with pictures, it is a must for Price fans.

Human Brit Chambers earns a living as a Were-creature Consultant. Human Power Committee member Pandor Evans hires Brit to destroy the indestructible Sacred Scepters, which legend says can, if applied, eliminate all magic. At the same time, Diablo wants to possess them so he can use them to rule the world.

Diablo's minions are killing those individuals with knowledge of the scepters. His assassins are successful except with Brit, who has Carpathian knives willingly protecting her. As she continues on her quest to simply save the world, a new problem occurs that sidetracks the courageous heroine. Courtesy of her best friend were-tiger Shayla has accidentally turned Brit into a blood donor of the Lord of the Vampires Daison.

The setting is incredible as readers will accept the ABCs of "Wallace World" due to relationships such as Brit has with Shayla a were-tiger though some might say with best friends like her who traps the heroine in a contract with a vampire one needs no enemies. Brit makes the supernatural seem normal as she deals with were-creatures, vampires, witches, warlocks and assorted ilk as an everyday occurrence even when she is not off saving the world. Fantasy fans will want to read this delightful tale starring a wonderful brave woman trying to do the right thing yet keep her vintage blood flowing inside her arteries and veins.

Harriet Klausner

This one's a keeper. I read it and will probably read it again. It's that kind of book.
Took me on a trip and I hated to see it end.
Wallace is a great artist and paints a magical world with her words.

Vintage Blood and the Sacred Scepters, the first book in the Werecreature Series by A.B. Wallace, is not a book that fits into any one genre, into any particular niche. It's horror, science fiction and fantasy all rolled into one, with a hint of P.I./crime thrown in for good measure. In a world in which magic, shapeshifters, witches, vampires and enchanting fauna all are commonplace, Brit Chambers, an entrepreneur and human, finds herself in the middle of a diabolical scheme to rid the world of magic.

Her best friends are weretigers. She employs warlocks. And she is the property of Lord Daison, a vampire. Not only must Brit find a way to free herself from the pact with the Lord, but she must also save the entire world as she knows it. Not an easy task, by any stretch of the imagination, especially when faced with the possibility of being drained of your blood by a vampire to whom you are attracted, but repulsed by at the same time. But if anyone is capable of succeeding and saving this magical world, it is Brit. She is as strong as they come, reminiscent of Jennifer Garner's character on the ABC show, Alias. She's compassionate, ready to assist any thing or any person she sees in trouble, unable to defend themselves. She could even be considered compassionate to a fault, so strong is her desire to help others, to right injustices that she often acts before considering the consequences to herself. She's loving and kind. She's intelligent and quick-witted as well as a physical and emotional force to be reckoned with. It's these qualities that get her past the many obstacles in her path.

The Sacred Scepters, hidden away long ago, must be found and destroyed before the evil Diablo, whose real identity is unknown, can find them himself and use them for his own purposes. Brit Chambers has been hired by Pandor Evans, who works for the group Human Power. Evans knows the location of the scepters, but he doesn't know how to destroy them. It is Brit's job to get this information for him. In the process, she learns not only valuable lessons about herself, but about those with whom she is involved: who is evil and who is truly loyal, who her real friends are, and who are enemies.

A.B. Wallace weaves an intricate tale with colorful characters and creative settings, from Lord Daison's beautiful palace to Brit's very own small apartment in the aptly named Box City. As a bonus, dark and sensual renditions of the characters, done by T. Kelly, are sprinkled throughout the book. Wallace's writing is crisp and imaginative, leaving the reader with no choice but to keep turning the pages. At times frightening and suspenseful, this book is also laugh out loud funny in places, erotic and emotionally engaging as well. A fast-paced, exciting novel, Vintage Blood and the Sacred Scepters is also just plain fun. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Reviewed by Elizabeth Blue, Pretty-Scary

Brit Chambers, a human, as well as Werecreature Consultant finds herself in a mating ritual and maiden to her best friend Shayla. Shayla must prove her worthiness in order to mate with a clan warrior and as a candidate she offers the powerful vampire Daison, Lord of the Weretigers, a simple gift.

Hand in hand, Magda the Enchantress and Brit approach. Brit holding Shayla's offering: a single long stem red rose, a symbol of human blood. Emotions suddenly flare when it is unveiled that the rose is not the actual gift, but Brit herself! Brit's life is turned upside down when she opts to save her friends.

Brit reluctantly concedes to the offering, now making her the property of Lord Daison. Her greatest fear is whether he will drain her of the precious life sustaining fluid that courses through her veins. Though none of this impedes the headstrong Brit from conducting business as usual. During daylight hours she proceeds towards her appointment with Pandor Evans who is on the Human Power Committee. Evans wants to hire Brit to acquire information about the Sacred Scepters.

The legend: He who holds the scepters acquires their power. The power to rid the world of magic! But Evans is not the only one who searches for them, so does Diablo. Without hesitation Brit takes the job well aware of Diablo's murderous profile.

A treacherous journey through underground rail stations, heartbreak of death, and the sweet fragrance of victory in life await readers of Vintage Blood and the Sacred Scepters. A. B. Wallace has done an exceptional job of storytelling and bringing terrifying mythical creatures to life. This novel will make a great addition to the avid readers library collection!

Reviewed by Betsie

Set on an unknown magical world where vampires, werecreatures of all kinds, witches, warlocks, enchantresses, and humans all co-exist. Brit Chambers is human. She is a feisty "Werecreature Consultant" hired to find information on how to destroy the Sacred Scepters. The scepters, according to myth, have the power to rid the world of all magic.

Pandor Evans, on the Human Power Committee, has knowledge of where the scepters are hidden. He wants them destroyed. But someone else, dubbed Diablo, is also after them. Diablo plans to locate them and rule the world. Diablo has sent out assassins to kill all who possess knowledge of the scepters, including Brit.

Carpathian knives are very rare. They have a will of their own and choose their own wearers. They reside on leather armbands Brit had specially made for them. Whenever Brit needs the knives, they slip off the armbands and crawl into her palms. Since Brit has the Carpathian knives and has trained in combat arts all her life, she can pretty much take care of herself. However, she now has another problem. Thanks to her best friend, a weretiger named Shayla, Brit has become Daison's (Lord of the Vampires) personal blood bank.

***** This is the first in the brand new Werecreatures Series. If the rest of the series turns out to be as good as this beginning, then we are in for a special treat. The book begins at the best possible time - in the middle of a big problem. Therefore, it will capture your attention almost immediately and holds your fascination until the climatic ending. Author A.B. Wallace is one to keep your eyes on! BRAVA! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

This book is sooooo good. I'm only 12 years old and i dont like to read but this book wa too good to put down. I got in trouble by my parents becuse I stayed up past my bed time reading it. But I just couldnt put it down. In my opinoin its the best boo in the world!!!!!

Wow.......Stephen King look out! This is one book that you can't put down. The story flows from beginning to exciting end and carries you along on a suspensful and scary ride. I'm hooked! I can't wait for the next book from this author.

I read alot of King and Koontz and this is on par with these two writers. If you like these two writers then this is a must read for you. I think I just read the next big thing to come out of the horror/suspense genre. This book flows smoothly from beginning to end. The character and scenery descriptions are fabulous! Watch out King and Koontz, there's a new kid in town and his voice will carry!

I am not a great fan of horror fiction; I lean more toward sci-fi and supernatural romance. However, this suspenseful, thoughtful and moving story about a young family in crisis and fighting for the "lives" of two young boys - one living and one already passed on - is a book that will keep you glued to your chair and guessing what will happen next right up to the last page. The final showdown between good and evil is one that will fill your heart with both sadness and joy, but will definitely move you to tears. There's lots of blood and guts for those of you who love that sort of thing, but there's also real human drama, and the main characters are well-written and very sympathetic. I say "well done" to this bright new Southern author, Robert Howell, and hope this is the first of many more novels to "carry" us away to his quirky Southern towns. Buy it - you'll have a great read! ... Pam White, SC

I love reading suspense/horror books and this book ranks at the top right along with Dean Koontz and Frank Peretti. When I started reading this book I could not put it down. Lots and lots of suspense and one of the best endings that I have every read. I recommend this book to everyone and look forward to reading more books from the author.

Vulgarian Goulash is not for the squeamish. Lance is an entertaining and descriptive story teller. Each story stands on its own. His stories are carefully crafted, clever, humorous, disturbing and, in some cases, evokes a very visceral reaction. A GREAT read.

In a word, disturbing. This collection of short stories is unlike you have ever read. The stories move swiftly and in many instances reach a disturbing climax. Few happy endings, but the stories are not easily forgotton. Unlike some fiction, Lance weaves a political undercurrent throughout the book. Yes, we have much to fear from authoritarian leaders. But there's no getting around man's inhumanity to man. Disturbing.

Vulgarian Goulash has left one deep, dark imprint on my psyche. I read several of the stories while traveling through airports on my way to Chicago for a holiday, and the images that were retained haunted several of my susequent days of leisure. Pure enternainment at its most crass. The stories work on several different levels at once, creatively engrossing one in the storyline while introducing political, theoretical, ideological, phenomenological and several other lines of thought to characters from all walks of life. With his piercingly clever style of writing and dark, steamy imagination, Lance will chisel pretty deeply into the people who read it. Can't wait until the movie comes out!

Vulgarian Goulash is a book of short stories that are extremely well crafted and utterly unusual. While the sex and violence are hard-hitting, they are part and parcel of our daily life; what we cannot escape even though we do our best to deny such is the case.
Vulgarian Goulash gives you a Lynchian "Blue Velvet" feel that lingers with you for days. But, this book is filled with incredible ideas; unlike any you've ever experienced; truly unique and worthy of a read. Do yourself a favor. Read VULGARIAN GOULASH today.

Steven Lance's "Vulgarian Goulash" is a psychologically
intense collection of provocative short stories that create
a chilling and thought provoking look at the decadence of
the human condition. Sexually charged, it delivers a shockingly bizarre twist of fate for each of the story's participants. The author has a stunning descriptive ability that lingers in your mind. Get ready for a trip down a twilight road that leads to the depths of human depravity.