Endless Shadow by John Brunner

The byline reads 'space bridge to disaster' - what it should read is 'space bridge to boredom'. Harsh, very harsh, I know. My mother told me if you don't have nice things to say then don't anything at all. I didn't listen to her. Endless Shadow, unfortunately has nothing going for it aside from a great cover. The print that populates the now 61yr old foxed pages does little justice to the pulp it is etched upon.

The early chapters are a kaleidoscope of chaos, pushing and pulling the plot in different off-worldly directions; from serpentine worshiping cults, to political posturing, to human traffic control aboard an intergalactic spacebridge, it's hard to know which thread to focus on.

The Space Bridge (akin to Thor's Bifrost) is the road which spawns many forks and is the place-setting which eventually spawns the braided narrative. 

Jorgen Thorkild, sci-fi homage to Thomas' fat controller (pre-dating Thomas of course so homage isn't the right word, perhaps inspiration?) is an angst ridden government man who takes his job so seriously he ends up committed to a mental institution following a meeting with political dignitaries from seemingly dangerous worlds. It's through this lens that  Endless Shadow starts to progress the plot with the Bridge core to proceedings.

Politics are plentiful, revolving around worlds signing up as a highway destination or risk rather harsh consequences; in the case planet Azrael, the destruction of the whole planet...there is rationale to support this overly dramatic interplay but it still reads as nonsensical escalation for the sake of nonsensical escalation. 

Endless Shadow is the weaker of the two stories in this Ace Double feature, I suggest prospective readers enjoy the cover art before flipping the book upside down and turning it over to read The Arsenal of Miracles by Gardner F. Fox. 

The Arsenal of Miracles by Gardner F. Fox

"It was Bran, the Wonderer, who found death. Literally, death; the reason men must die." 

The opening line to The Arsenal of Miracles lays the foundation for what should be a dark sci-fi adventure featuring a lone wolf protagonist with knowledge unparalleled; the power to understand what creates and what ends mankind. The interpreted promise is just that, a reader's assumption based on minimal print which inevitably leads to disappointment. 

Published in 1964, packaged with Endless Shadow by John Brunner, this one-half of the Ace Double feature provides a teaser of space adventure; a story one-step down from sci-fi. The plot reads routine, only dabbling in mystery as an afterthought. 

The action-hero mantle protagonist Bran is presented from the opening pages gives credence to the plight and fight for his peoples and that of other-world dwellers - kinfolk of sorts to humanoid earthlings, as he rights the wrongs done to him and others at the hands of space-conquering connivers. Peganna, the female side kick of silver hair and customary sleek figure - arm candy in stella princess form, adds to the typecast tale. 

The 'arsenal', the miracle cache of weapons, holds true to the title. From the outset, there's no doubt said arsenal exists and will be found by the teleporting space travelling duo in due course. The only uncertainty is what evil awaits to thwart our hero and heroine's sojourn and use of weaponry once obtained. The thwarting, unfortunately, is a dull ride aboard a slow moving spacecraft. 

On a positive note, Author Gardner F. Fox smartly infuses the ageing process into the narrative which triggers a deeper thinking of evolution and enhancements modern medicine has made in real-life to prolong lifespan; a highlight of the novel, which, reading 60-plus years post publication (and later I'm sure) gives a dosage of reality appreciated by the reader. 

The Arsenal of Miracles is a take-it or leave-it story for me; quick to consume, easy to digest, and enjoyable enough to keep chewing after that first bite. 

Blood Sugar by Daniel Kraus

Obligatory read pre, during, and post Halloween. Blood Sugar, the heartfelt (yep, there's more to this chocolate than what's on the wrapper) tale of loss, found, family and cleaning products concealed in candy is pitchfork perfect for the spooky season finale. 

Jody, a teen with rock hard abs and little to no future prospects has found family in the down-on-his-luck Robbie, a former high school running back, Midge, Jody's foster sister (who, whilst small in stature leaves a lasting and large impression), and Dag, a talented teen from a good home with a bad sister. Together they've forged a bond most true bloods would want to emulate.

A day in the life of this self-made family, as perceived through the crusty pink-eyes of faithful little narrator Jody makes Blood Sugar as unique and powerful as it is. The trick-or-treat setting providing the perfect catalyst for chaos.   

Joining in on the morning of Halloween, the reader is thrust into a mouse ridden keep, complete with hoarded trash piling up in hallways, busted walls, strange spills on many a surface, and is bared witness to an exchange which is petrifying in its plausibility; the plan, to poison candy for the neighborhood children. Robbie, the type cast misanthrope. 

A this human horror plays out, the character's shine in their own right, even Robbie. Author Daniel Kraus makes each of his creations hateable and relatable, yet remarkable likable, though for Robbie, the likable part is as short lived as his running back career. 

Needless to say, Blood Sugar is a story which sticks like flypaper on skin. The omnipresent threat of something so sinister looms large over each chapter. Each scene Jody relays to the reader inches closer to a curtain close with one certainty; this will not end well. 

Goodbye Jody, see you next Halloween. 

Resurrected on Halloween

The first breath filled my lungs with acidic earthily particles of long undisturbed soil and organic waste. To the back of my throat, stuck the foreign matter, causing a riptide of spasms and neck vein-throbbing coughs; a feeble auto-response to dislodge the discomfort. Yet, not an unwelcome one. 

My fingers curled around an object my brain failed to place. Something alien yet, at the same time, familiar. Hard edged, square, firm, and weighty. A mass with substance and presence; a tome. 

With what strength I could muster, I raised this tome, skeletal fingers indenting the outer protective shell, the binders board now bearing the eternal scars of my struggle as I pushed/pulled towards the surface. The desecrated coffin crumbled, offering no resistance. 

Welcome back to the blog. 

Resurrected on Halloween. 

REVIEW: How To Sell A Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

Imagine walking into your childhood home after learning of your parents untimely death only to find your mother’s life work being the source of their ‘murder’ and that you’re next on the hit list. Oh, and that brother of yours is a complete a-hole who can’t wait to screw you out of any inheritance.

Welcome to the drama that accompanies the horror in HOW TO SELL A HAUNTED HOUSE. 

The title is suggestive of a haunted house novel (I mean, the title includes the words ‘haunted’ and ‘house’ so it’s not hard to draw that conclusion) however, Grady Hendrix’s latest is more about creepy dolls and supernatural spooks than a traditional ghost story. Think Chucky (or Slappy if you’re more familiar with the crazy ass doll from Goosebumps) with the violence amped up a notch or ten. 

HOW TO SELL A HAUNTED HOUSE is pitched perfect at horror readers seeking a modern update to their haunted/possessed/demonic doll fetish books made famous by renowned Zebra-published author Ruby Jean Jensen. I read this in two sittings, and can’t recommend it highly enough.  

REVIEW: Wasps in the Ice Cream by Tim McGregor

The summer of 1987 would be a summer like no other for Mark Prewitt. The long hazy days, the warmer weather, the hours spent doing a whole lot of nothing with friends, the of learning the dark arts with his witch-like girlfriend - seems kinda normal in a way, well, except for that last part...

George Farrow, one of the infamous Farrow girls is Wednesday Adams sans supernatural spooks. Her mystic lies in the veil of smoke and mirrors which clouds the townsfolk's perception of the family. They're weird outcasts, witches, recluses who stay behind closed doors, closed off to the town at large. When Mark tries to break normal in an attempt to cross over to their world, he gets more than he bargained for - a love interest and a glimpse at redemption for his own wicked ways. 

WASPS IN THE ICE CREAM by Tim McGregor is a coming of age story first and foremost with horror themes at the peripheral. The story is one made of heart and heartache with lead character Mark, embarking on a journey to right some of his wrongs. School yard bullying, growing up, and finding oneself are key cogs in the story - all of which made me love/hate/love the characters.  

The wasps (yes there's actually wasps in the ice cream 'parlor' Mark works at (one of his summer jobs)) play a pivotal role in proceedings. Their presence, at first somewhat comedic and light-hearted makes a whole lot more sense as the story progresses, with the fierce, ice cream craving creatures acting as a barometer.

WASPS IN THE ICE CREAM is one of those novels you don't want to end. The characters read so 'real' that each of their trials and tribulations is felt long after the last page is turned. 

Many thanks to Raw Dog Screaming Press for providing a review copy of this book! This did not influence my review in any way. 

Pick Up A Pulp [SPACEWAYS #1]: OF ALIEN BONDAGE by John Cleve

Spaceways; the infamous 1980's series of over sexualised space exploration initially published by the highly collectable publisher, Playboy Paperbacks (Spaceways #1 through to #9), and later by Berkley (Spaceways #10 through to #19) mostly written by Andrew J. Offutt writing as John Cleve (there's a handful of coauthors sprinkled throughout), is known for it's great cover art and distinct 'adult' narrative. This sub series of Pick Up A Pulp will focus on the series of books published in chronological order.

OF ALIEN BONDAGE - the first foray into galactic sex trafficking introduces Captain Jonuta of the spaceship Coronet, as he, and his crew of sexpots suffering from Stockholm syndrome traverse the stars in search of new and exotic cattle to feed the many 'Procurer's' planet-side greed for wealth and near unquenchable lust for firm, pliable bodies. 

A routine stop on the 'protected' plant of Aglaya (protected planets are those which are considered 'non-tech', or are inhabited by beings of lower intelligent lifeform), pays dividends thanks to crew members Srith and Arel kidnapping the short of stature, but buxom Janja, a pale skinned and fair haired anomaly (at least to the planets frequented by Jonuta and crew) who would fetch a high sum on the open market. However, Arel's mistake in vaporising Janja's 'lifemate' planet-side would later prove costly...

You wouldn't think this rapey/porno inspired galactic romp would have much depth, however that's far from the case. Sure, John Cleve's sexualised space opera isn't exactly high end literature but it does have a decent 'woman scorned / revenge' theme complimented by a strong, independent character in Janja who, despite her wanton ways (this is something she steadily discovers throughout the book), is a character with a fair amount of depth and personality; not just a sexpot or plaything as advertised in the early phase of the story. 

Captain Jonuta, for his part, suffers from a bipolar disorder of sorts. It feels like the author wanted him to be a bad guy (he is a sex trafficker on a galactic scale after all) but then flips the script with attempts to make him more hero (like when he realises attempting to rape Janja isn't a nice thing to do - she should want him on her own terms (he's sure she will eventually), and then later realising that selling her to a couple of sadistic types wasn't in Janja's best interest (you think?), so he really should attempt to rescue her)), nevertheless the change in direction for Jonuta was fun to read, especially knowing that Janja was plotting his downfall should he actually end up 'rescuing her'. 

OF ALIEN BONDAGE gets the Spaceways series off to a good start. You can see that the books in the series will have returning characters and planets visited time and again. The first book in the series does a good job at world building both in characters and locales. I'm excited to see how the dynamic plays out between Janja and Captain Jonuta in later installments.

Space Log #1:

Characters of note: 

• Captain Jonuta and crew (Kenowa (aka Kenny), second in command and Jonuta's main 'love' interest, Sweetface - the Jarp hermaphrodite, Srith, Arel - now deceased) 
• Janja and acquaintances (Whitey - of planet Aglaya, (rescues Janja from unsavory characters on planet Resh))
• Talicuan (Procurer who purchased Janja from Jonuta and sold her to Sicuan)  
• Sicuan and Chulucan (sadistic socialites who bought Janja on Resh)
• Captain Corundum (space pirate and Jonuta's arch nemesis)

Planets of note:

• Aglaya - Janja's homeplanet where she was kidnapped by Jonuta's crew
• Resh - homeplanet to Sicuan and Chulucan. The planet where Jonuta sold Janja
• Franji - meeting place of Corundum and Janja

Characters on the Cover art: 

• Captain Jonuta
• Janja

Next book in the series:

• Spaceways 2: Corundum's Woman 

REVIEW: Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung

This collection of short stories by Bora Chung (translated by Anton Hur) isn't confined within the bounds of a single genre; CURSED BUNNY takes core horror elements and spreads them to the far reaches of fiction to provide the reader with a unique and deep experience.

THE HEAD, and THE EMBODIMENT immediately conjure images of Japanese body horror akin to Junji Ito's manga masterpieces where the scariest part of the story isn't what lurks behind closed doors or waits patiently in the depths of dark alleyways, but rather what's bubbling beneath the surface, ready to breakout and consume us from within (or consume our waste to make a doubleganger which will ultimately replace us, as it were...). Both are equally as good as one another and were perfect stories to set the tone of the collection. 

CURSED BUNNY takes the reader down a slightly different path, where curses are sewn into the fabric of items gifted to unsuspecting souls. The result is a decent horror read which is just as much about character emotion as it is genuine scares. THE FROZEN FINGER, on the other hand (no pun intended) is pure horror written in a way which leaves the reader questioning the narrator's reliability and grips on their own reality - I really liked this one.

SNARE reads like a folktale and focuses on greed and abuse. There's a literary undertone which is thought provoking yet the writing is such that the story flows nicely without you having to sit an contemplate the actions of the characters too much if you don't want to. SNARE was another favorite of mine. 

I'm being deliberately vague about each the content of each story as I feel this collection is best experienced 'cold'. 

Now, onto the most life-like story of them of all, and perhaps the most scariest due to its plausibility; GOODBYE, MY LOVE reads like a script written for the Black Mirror TV series. Robots, companionship, artificial intelligence, humanoids...yeah, you know where this is going...

SCARS takes a little someone from Conan and a little something from Gladiator, and a little something from folklore (specifically the horror-kind) and mashes it all together to make a meaty broth of fantasy with a protagonist who, whilst mostly beast is genuinely the most 'human' character in the story. I would love to see SCARS written and fleshed out as a full fledged novel someday (it is the longest story in the collection but I could've read another 100 pages of this easily). 

HOME SWEET HOME is the requisite ghost story, yet it doesn't read like a ghost story, with the characters and their all too real world problems taking centre stage. The chills in this one spine tingle at the end. Where the collection pivots is with RULER OF THE WIND AND SANDS which took me back to one of the stories in The Midnight Club by Christopher Pike. The fantasy element is high here but again, the theme of CURSED BUNNY shines through with pure character driven storytelling at the forefront. 

REUNION rounds out the collection by adding another ghost story, which, whilst still enjoyable didn't hit the same highs as HOME SWEET HOME. This time round, the story focuses on a relationship bound by a ghost in a park square - it's an interesting take which works well, yet there's nothing scary which jumps off the page, but them again, I don't think that's the purpose; do I dare say this one is semi-romance? REUNION adds that last piece of the puzzle to a diverse and enjoyable collection of short stories. 

If I were to rank my top five favorites from CURSED BUNNY, it'd go something like this:

1. THE HEAD

2. GOODBYE, MY LOVE

3. THE EMBODIMENT

4. SCARS 

5. HOME SWEET HOME

Many thanks to Scibe for providing a review copy of this book! This did not influence my review in any way.

Horror For Your Head! Upcoming Horror Reads

Today I thought I'd take a look at a handful of horror books on the horizon that I can't wait to delve into. Whilst some of these might already be published around the world, in the land of Oz where I live, they're yet to hit the shelves (of course you could always just watch KILLER TOMATOES if you've not experienced it). These books didn't feature in my earlier post about some of my most anticipated reads for the new year so go check out that post if you're after even more awesome reads for 2023! 

When Anne O’Donnell arrives on a dock in France in 1789 with no memory of her past, she allows herself to be renamed Marguerite and taken in as governess for Mellian, the petulant daughter of the rich merchant, Donatien Marais. But the chateau holds many secrets, some of them deadly.

A genre-defying collection of short stories by Korean author Bora Chung. Blurring the lines between magical realism, horror, and science-fiction, Chung uses elements of the fantastic and surreal to address the very real horrors and cruelties of patriarchy and capitalism in modern society.

Summer 1987: Mark Prewitt's only priority is to avoid his dad's new wife and waste time with his friends, but idle nights are the devil's handiwork. When his friends decide to pull a cruel prank on the reclusive and strange Farrow sisters, Mark regrets caving in to peer pressure.

Wanting to make amends, Mark is drawn into the mysterious world of the Farrow girls, finding a kindred spirit in the middle sister, George. She is unlike anyone he's ever known; a practicing witch who uses folk magic to protect her family. They bond over books, loneliness, and homemade spells. She even invites Mark to join a séance to contact her dead sister, who died under mysterious circumstances.

Keeping their relationship secret, Mark learns that living a double life in a town this small is impossible. When the secret is exposed, and his friends plot to punish the witch sisters for stealing one of their own, Mark is forced to choose between these two worlds.

UFOs! Bigfoot! Communists! 

The government has swiftly dealt with many a crisis... But can it survive the diabolical 

ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES? 

After a series of bizarre and increasingly horrific attacks from pulpy, red, seeded fruit, Mason Dixon finds himself leading a "crack" team of specialists to save the planet. But will they be quick enough to save everyone? To save you? 

You can't run!

You can't swim!

There's nowhere to hide! 

THE KILLER TOMATOES ARE EVERYWHERE!

REVIEW: The Midnight Club by Christopher Pike

Despite having a beat-up paperback edition of THE MIDNIGHT CLUB (published 1994) sitting on my shelf for years, I never had the inclination to read it until after I finished watching the Netflix series (which I loved btw). Naturally I had high hopes that the book would deliver in spades, given that's the way these things generally go, right? I mean, the book is almost always better than the screen adaptation... So, how was it?

Well, different. A lot different. 

The characters (only 5 in the book) live in Rotterham House, a hospice for young people. Just like the TV series, each are terminal and are engaging and deep characters with their own unique story to tell. The sad feels from the TV series is prominent here too - as is the main theme; storytelling - which, just like the TV series, is a real highlight, only this time, Ilonka's midnight stories are retellings of a former life, one which involves some of the other characters. This added a fantasy element to the narrative which provided a nice distraction from the generally somber tone of the book. 

The horror element is distinctly lacking; The cult, the ghosts, the horror stories told by the characters in the TV series aren't here, and that's ok, the book is a different story and is equally as enjoyable. 

THE MIDNIGHT CLUB reads more as a heartfelt teen drama, a character study resilience and the power of imagination. The horror, as mentioned earlier, isn't in the creepy crawlies or bumps in the night, rather, this is real world horror and it's damn right scary. 

Pick Up A Pulp [89]: CONQUEST OF THE AMAZON by John Russell Fearn

For starters, this is not the book you’d think it is. The cover art says ‘sword and sorcery’, the blurb on the back of the book says ‘sci-fi Martian invasion’, the inside is actually all about a fearless hero tasked with saving the world from an extension level event…an event which happened to be caused by said hero; the Golden Amazon herself! 

The year is 2030-something and mankind has advanced to the stars. After conquering Mars, establishing a colony on the Moon, and mastering space travel, life is pretty good for us Earth dwellers until, the Sun starts to lose it’s power; dark spots on the surface spell doom for the entire planet and there’s only one person who can save humanity! Only, she’s not planet-side and isn’t in the good books of the collective world government… 

Nevertheless, the genetically enhanced super being who is the Golden Amazon is made for heroism and won’t let anyone stand in her way of saving Earth, even if it means destroying other planets in the process, and brutally blowing apart sea monsters from the deep (just look at that cover!)! 

Yeah – this is pretty farfetched but a hell of a lot of fun to read. 

With these types of books you're not looking for deep and meaningful storytelling or high end literature, no, you want junk food for the mind and CONQUEST OF THE AMAZON delivers in spades. 

Despite the super hero/semi villain character, being at the helm of her seventh story, CONQUEST OF THE AMAZON is very accessible to new readers (of which I am one), so if you come across this in a secondhand bookstore, I wouldn't hesitate in picking it up. 

My Dark Library (Part 1)

 

Today I thought I'd take a look at the first four novellas published in the My Dark Library collection as curated by Sadie 'Mother Horror' Hartmann. You can find out more about them at Cemetery Gates Media HERE. 

Before I begin, I want to make it clear I in no way know Sadie Hartmann, but, as a long time follower on twitter, I do take notice when she tweets, and simply love her taste in horror so, when this series of novellas was announced I couldn't wait to jump right in feet first and get lost in the strange and varied world of torrid tales!

The first 4 novellas provide a little something for every horror aficionado.

STARGAZERS by LP Hernandez oozes CELL vibes, taking me back to how I felt when I read the grandmaster Stephen King's take on a different kind of zombie-like being. Add in a father daughter combo to contend with Cormac McCarthy's THE ROAD father/son dynamic and you know you're in for a real treat. 

Body dysmorphia and omnipresent hallucinatory monsters make #thighgap by Chandler Morrison a damn scary read. Not only does the body horror take centre stage but the real-world likeness of the character's struggle make this a truly memorable read. 

BOUNT FEET by Kelsea Yu is on a whole new level when it comes to scares! This is just plain creepy, but, that's not the selling point. Equal parts horror and heart, BOUNT FEET tells a horrific tale of a child lost and a mother's desperate plight to correct the wrongs done to her young family. The backdrop to this story is Portland's Chinese Garden and Ghost Museum which plays home to some terrifying ghosts and compliments the narrative perfectly. BOUND FEET is a difficult book to gush over without accidently giving away spoilers so I'll stop writing...

On to the fourth book, TABOO IN FOUR COLORS by Tim McGregor. When I first started reading this, I was immediately reminded of the Jack & Maggie Starr series by Max Allan Collins, however any comparison soon paled when the horror kicked in. This novella packed a punch and is probably the best of the four I've read so far. 

I'm looking forward to seeing where this series of books goes next!

Pick Up A Pulp [88]: CONAN THE AVENGER by Robert E Howard

By Crom there's a lot of testosterone in this one! 

The tenth volume in the Conan series features the novel, RETURN OF CONAN written by Bjorn Nyberg and L. Sprague De Camp as well as a history of the Hyborian Age by Robert E Howard. Now, I've got to admit I came here for the feature and left before the credits so this review will just focus on the story proper...which was balls to wall machoism from first to last blood. 

Conan is sitting atop his latest throne in Aquilonia, once again a king and once again with a stunningly beautiful queen by his side. Life is good, food is plentiful and times are peaceful. Until they aren't. 

Within the first handful of pages, Conan's queen, Zenobia, is whisked away by a mysterious shadow which can only be the makings of a dark magician! A magician Conan must slay if he intends to bed his beauty once more!

Despite Conan's quest to save his queen from unthinkable horrors at the hands of said dark magician, he doesn't shy away from the wanton women all too willing to share their wares with him. Conan's not a one woman sort of guy - a point emphasized throughout the novel.

When he's not enjoying himself with members of the opposite sex, Conan is kicking ass and taking names on a sojourn which sees him shed blood in desert fortresses, pirate ships, ice-capped mountains, and secluded hide outs deep in the forest. He sure gets around in this one! 

When all is said and done, THE RETURN OF CONAN is a stock sword and sorcery, pitched men's adventure style at pulp purists looking for an adventure dripping with blood thirsty battles and sex aplenty. While THE RETURN OF CONAN doesn't bring anything new to the table, I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Check out another Pick Up A Pulp post featuring Conan: 

Pick Up A Pulp [77]: CONAN 

 

REVIEW: Hit Me by Christa Faust

It's been a hot minute since I read a story by Christa Faust. PEEPLAND (2017) was a lot of fun, and I loved the two Angel Dare novels published by Hard Case Crime in CHOKE HOLD (2011) and MONEY SHOT (2008). HIT ME is her most recent offering published in September 2022 by Upshot, with volume one collecting issues #1-#5 of the kick ass BDSM sex worker's first outing.

Lulu loves pain; loves the way it makes her feel sexually and emotionally, yet she's able to turn off the on-switch when the need arises, having developed a high tolerance for pain she's a pro at controlling her body's desires and stimulus. 

She earns a buck pleasuring clients by allowing them to inflict pain on her. Don't misinterpret her cause, Lulu is far from a damsel in distress, this is her occupation chosen by own volition. Accompanied by her trusty puppy eyed bodyguard Danny, Lulu's latest job is for a repeat client, Mr Tak. On face value the set-up is the same; a private room in a hotel, body guard with a line of sight thanks to some hidden cameras, the only thing different about this is the shootout which takes place as soon as Lulu opens the door to the suite. Oh, and the bag of diamonds on the floor, yeah, that's different. 

HIT ME is high octane action mixed with a heady dose of Faust's pitch black noir. The underworld meets the secretive world of sex head on in a bloody collision of plasma and body fluids as Lulu tries to make sense of a crime she really should have no part in. Readers familiar with the Angel Dare novels will eat this up in a single sitting (as I did), while readers looking for a story with a unique and totally kick ass protagonist will leave with a belly full of satisfaction. Fingers crossed this isn't the last we've seen of Lulu. 

Most Anticipated Books of 2023 (Part 1)

New year, new reading goals, new books! 

As a long time bookworm, I love heading into a new year full of optimism and excitement for all the new books I plan to read. Be it those which have sat patiently on my shelves (many of which bidding their time for a few years...), tucked away inside my kindle (not a big e-book fan but I do dabble) or those on one of my many online/offline wish lists waiting to find that special place in my home library - the possibilities to discover my next favourite read are endless. 

But, one of the most enjoyable things about the new year, is the publication of new books. And 2023 brings a bunch of books I can't wait to read (or at least, purchase and stare lovingly at their covers on my bookshelves whilst I wade through my ever expanding TBR...). 

As mentioned in my first post of 2023, I love a good book list, so without further ado here's a list of some of my most anticipated new books of 2023! 

Expected Publication: 17 January 2023

Publisher: Berkley 

Genre: Horror

From the blurb; When their parents die at the tail end of the coronavirus pandemic, Louise and Mark Joyner are devastated but nothing can prepare them for how bad things are about to get. The two siblings are almost totally estranged, and couldn’t be more different. Now, however, they don’t have a choice but to get along. The virus has passed, and both of them are facing bank accounts ravaged by the economic meltdown. Their one asset? Their childhood home. They need to get it on the market as soon as possible because they need the money. Yet before her parents died they taped newspaper over the mirrors and nailed shut the attic door.

Expected Publication: 21 February 2023

Publisher: Harper

Genre: Horror

From the blurb; Sequel to Lovecraft Country. Atticus Turner and his father, Montrose, travel to North Carolina, where they plan to mark the centennial of their ancestor's escape from slavery by retracing the route he took into the Great Dismal Swamp. But an encounter with an old nemesis turns their historical reenactment into a real life-and-death pursuit. 

Expected Publication: 28 February 2023

Publisher: Mysterious Press

Genre: Non-Fiction

From the blurb; Beginning in 1947 with I, the Jury, and continuing with his next six novels, Spillane quickly amassed a readership in the tens of millions, becoming the bestselling novelist in the history of American publishing. Surrounded by controversy for the overt violence and suggestive sexual content of his iconic Mike Hammer private eye novels, Spillane was loathed by critics but beloved by his readers. There is, however, more to Spillane’s life than the books. He also starred as Hammer in a movie, was a circus performer, worked with the FBI in capturing a notorious criminal, and starred in Miller Light beer commercials that were so popular they ran for a quarter of a century.

Expected Publication: 21 March 2023

Publisher: Mulholland Books

Genre: Mystery

From the blurb; Charlie Garner has a bad feeling. His ex-wife, Meg, has been missing for over a week and one quick peek into her home shows all her possessions packed up in boxes. Neighbors claim she’s running from bill collectors, but Charlie suspects something more sinister is afoot. Meg was last seen working at the local donut shop, a business run by a shadow group most refer to as ‘The Saucer People’; a space-age, evangelist cult who believe their compound to be the site of an extraterrestrial Second Coming.

Expected Publication: 2 May 2023

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Genre: Fantasy / Horror

From the blurb; Founded by the mysterious genius known as the Designer, the archipelago of Prospera lies hidden from the horrors of a deteriorating outside world. In this island paradise, Prospera's lucky citizens enjoy long, fulfilling lives until the monitors embedded in their forearms, meant to measure their physical health and psychological well-being, fall below 10 percent. Then they retire themselves, embarking on a ferry ride to the island known as the Nursery, where their failing bodies are renewed, their memories are wiped clean, and they are readied to restart life afresh.

Expected Publication: (paperback TBC)

Publisher: Valancourt Books

Genre: Horror

From the blurb; Five men and one beautiful woman. Marooned on a floating island of arctic ice. Together they had the equipment and skills to fight the freezing cold, the violently savage storms. Then suddenly from the angry seas the jaws of horror opened wide as nature's deadliest creature rose from the depths—a huge killer whale of enormous intelligence, incredible power, indestructible endurance, ravenous for human prey..

Expected Publication: July 2023

Publisher: Hard Case Crime

Genre: Crime

From the blurb; It’s the summer of ’74…Richard Nixon has resigned from office, CB radios are the hot new thing, and in the great state of Texas two cousins hatch a plan to drive $1 million worth of stolen weed to Idaho, where some lunatic is gearing up to jump Snake River Canyon on a rocket-powered motorcycle. But with a vengeful sheriff on their tail and the revered and feared marijuana kingpin of Central Texas out to get his stash back, Chuck and Dean are in for the ride of their lives – if they can make it out alive…

Expected Publication: 5 September 2023

Publisher: Mulholland Books

Genre: Crime

From the blurb; A cinematic new mystery from an award-winning crime writer, California Bear follows two unlikely vigilantes whose decision to take justice into their own hands pits them against the villains behind California’s coldest cases—and their own twisted histories.

Reading in 2023

For a change of pace, I thought I’d post something a little different to the norm. With this blog being somewhat of an erratic review site since the pandemic, I want to make an effort at getting back to the original premise; a celebration of all things bookish, focusing on my love of reading and writing about books that excite me and some those that leave a lasting impression – including the ‘bad’ ones. By ‘bad’ I mean those that don’t jell with me, each book I’ve read, including the DNF’s generally have something good about them, but not all the books I read work for me.

 
So what does that actually mean? What was the original premise of this blog site?
 

• Provide a gateway to connect with authors and avid readers,

• Promote independent publishers and authors,

• Provide a mechanism to wax lyrical about my favourite reads and general bookish going-on’s in the world,

• Lists! I love a good book related list so expect a bunch of those!

• Hype posts for upcoming reads/books soon to be published

• Book reviews; General reviews, humour themed horror paperback reviews, and of course, my Pick up a Pulp series

In my head as I write this, the term ‘best laid plans…’ is on repeat. We’ll see how 2023 pans out, but for now, I’m optimistic of sticking to a semi regular schedule and posting more than just book reviews.
 
Happy reading.

REVIEW: Toxic Love by Kristopher Triana

 

Well, that was an experience... 

TOXIC LOVE is unlike any other book I've read, though the bizarro fiction of Carlton Mellick III comes close. 

Mike Ashbrook is a crime scene cleaner. After the murder, suicide, or death by natural causes, once the police and crime scene investigators have left, after the body (or bodies as is generally the case here) have been taken to the morgue, all that's left behind is body fluid, stains, and small remains. That's where Mike's talents are put to use - sure it's not a great job but it pays the rent and when you've got little by way of job prospects on the horizon and an estranged family needing cash for various expenses, you gotta do what you gotta do. 

Little did Mike know, that, in his mid forties, working a dead end job would lead to a whole new life (both in terms of sex and money). Maybe mopping up blood and collecting skull fragments off the floor ain't so bad after all? 

Naturally the cleaning business doesn't lend itself to long term employees, so when newcomer Sage (a twenty something sexpot) joins Mike on the job as the latest hire, he's thinking he'll be up for a new partner before the end of their first clean-up job together. Instead, he ends up banging Sage on the floor in a pool of the deceased blood...yeah gross... 

That's pretty much how the bulk of the story plays out. Sage is a freak who loves to screw in the fluid the cleaning crew are hired to mop up. Sadly, not all the guys Sage meets are up for this kind of action...good thing Mike's short of morals (though there is some inner turmoil (which largely evaporates are the sight of Sage's bare breasts)) and lacks will power. 

Once the shock value wears off, (which takes some time, believe me), the story clicks over at a steady pace with Sage's desires becoming increasingly taboo - from self harm, to necrophilia to murder, with Mike coming along for the ride - literally. Despite the graphic nature of the content, both Mike and Sage are enjoyable characters who bring life to the tale focused on death.

I was pleasantly surprised at the depth to TOXIC LOVE, in particular the criminal elements which complemented the main story nicely. The introduction of Sage's cousin into the mix was a nice touch and provided a different lens to the horror-erotica.  

TOXIC LOVE is a niche read. If you dig Bizarro/horror-erotica/splatter-punk etc. then this one is perfect for you. As a reader who is relatively new to this style of book, I wasn't sure if I'd be able to get into it, however I found myself unable to put it down until I'd consumed all there was to offer.

REVIEW: Paradise Club by Tim Meyer

 

Wow! That was brutal!

I could end the review there really...

PARADISE CLUB is not for the feint of heart. It you're a reader who shies away from copious amounts of blood and gore, or scenes which teeter on the edge of bizzaro-fiction / extreme-horror then PARADISE CLUB isn't for you. If, on the other other hand, you like your horror to be a full immersive experience, viscera and all - then step right up because author Time Meyer sure has served a feast! 

Elliot Harper, an FBI agent, and his family win a vacation to a secluded island (along with some 600 other guests) where they'll be pampered, enjoy crystal clear water and be treated some exotic cuisine. What the pamphlet neglected to mention was that the guests would also be treated to a very exclusive and dangerous game - the Skirmish. More on that later.

Pretty early on in the piece, Elliot knows something isn't right...accidentally stumbling upon a man being tortured and killed in the basement of the hotel you're staying will give you those 'feel bad vibes'. In no time at all the resort is overrun by killer clowns, chainsaw wielding lumberjacks and samurai's to name a few, hellbent on murdering the guests in the most macabre way. Good stuff. 

Horror fans will immediately think of The Purge, which is apt - after all, a select few get free reign on mass murder, but there's a difference. Rather than 'purging America', this group of costumed killers is contributing to a Lovercraftian cause to raise an ancient race! Didn't see that coming did you? The Skirmish is a bloody means to an end which threatens all participants (killers included - there's no discrimination here with some pretty gory murderer-on-murderer violence). 

I had a blast reading PARADISE CLUB which just happened to be my first read by author Tim Meyer and I can tell you, it won't be the last!

REVIEW: The Charnel Caves by Guy N Smith

 

Before I begin my review of THE CHARNEL CAVES I need to disclose that, whist I've read loads of books by Guy N Smith, his renowned 'Crabs' series has remained somewhat elusive to me (it's kinda hard getting hold of those glorious paperbacks in Australia in 2022!), meaning...CHARNEL CAVES is my first foray into the renowned creature feature series by the perennial horror master. 

THE CHARNEL CAVES is the eighth (not including graphic novels, chap books, or short story collections) and final book in the series.  

Note to first time 'Crabs' series readers - this is not the place to start. You will have fun but I strongly recommend taking to the time to read the other books in the series - I felt this would've been much more enjoyable with all that detailed backstory to support the cruel crustacean invasion! 

Now that's all out of the way - what did I think of the book? 

Well...it had its moments...

THE CHARNEL CAVES sees a small resurgence of the long thought extinct monster crabs following a spate of gruesome human deaths off the Welsh coast. However, whilst the crabs would prove to be the culprits, author Guy N Smith does his best to impress upon the reader a new threat! One more menacing than those pesky overgrown crabs (read the book to find out what)! 

While the smoke and mirrors added a little something extra to the sea food broth, ultimately, THE CHARNEL CAVES is about those famous monster crabs and their never ending thirst for human flesh. 

Kept largely to a small cave, the group of crabs manage to cause a lot of chaos. Enter Pat, a character from a previous installment (I think...) who had faced these monsters previously and lived to tell the tale. He's on the coast to conquer his fears, much to the chagrin of his partner. What was meant to be a form of therapy for Pat turns into warfare, as once, again, man verses beast in a final battle to determine who is the dominant species once and for all!

Spoiler - it's the humans. 

THE CHARNEL CAVES is all killer, no filler. On the surface this seems like a good deal for readers, however both plot and character development suffer. Even the threat of world war three doesn't add much depth. It's almost as if THE CHARNEL CAVES was written for a graphic novel, in which case, the scrip and pace would've been perfect.  

Overall, I still enjoyed popping my Crabs cherry with THE CHARNEL CAVES. If anything it's got me even more eager to hunt down all the books in the series!

REVIEW: Clusterfuck by Carlton Mellick III

THE BRO CODE #76

A bro always has his bro's back, especially when being hunted by subterranean cannibal mutants. 

A handful of frat boys and their "girlfriends" (aka glorified f*ck buddies) decide to go spelunking in a little known cave system hidden deep inside a mountain range. Despite having zero experience (aside from watching cave-crawling documentaries on pay TV that is), the group's lack of know-how doesn't deter them. Their supreme confidence and extreme (Dean!) nature for living life to the fullest is all the knowledge they need to conquer the depths of the unknown - who knows, maybe they'll get famous after discovering a new cave dwelling species or something? 

Yeah...no.

Clusterfuck is... well.. awesome. 

There, I said it. Much like Apeshit before it, Clusterfuck has loads of over the top horror in the most macabre way, but somehow author Carlton Mellick III just makes it work...Sure, having a character who loves to bake her own faeces (and other bodily fluid) into cookies and meat pies for her friends is gross but somehow Mellick weaves this into the story so well that it actually feels natural (I kinda threw up in my mouth a little after writing that but it's the truth). 

Strange baking techniques aside, Clusterfuck has similar survival horror themes to other cave dwelling horrors like Hell-O-Ween; a group of characters get stuck in a cave and have to survive an onslaught of horror troupes until day break. Unfortunately for these characters in Mellick's world, they're unable to leave the cave, even after besting their horrible foes...(read Apeshit, Clusterfuck's spiritual prequel, it'll all make sense). 

To spice things up a little, one of the female characters has a hidden talent...turning into a jaguar when angry...who would've thought? Not the cave dwelling mutant/cannibals that's for sure! There's a lot to take in here, but, as mentioned earlier, it somehow fits the narrative perfectly. 

Call it bizzaro. Call it splatterpunk, call it extreme horror. Whatever suits your fancy, Clusterfuck is pure, unadulterated fun. Read it, don't take it seriously, and have a blast!