[BehemothCat]

OK, here we go with the latest horror reads!

I'm more of a dabbler in horror than a real fan, nonetheless, I read two horror books this past month.

Irrational Fears by William Browning Spenser. After being bowled over by Spenser's Zod Wollop and Resume With Monsters, I had great expectations from Irrational Fears. Unfortunately, the book, while showing flashes of brilliance, was overall a bit of a disappointment. It's premise of mixing AA and the Cthulhu Mythos could have born great comic fruit, but it seemed to misfire at times. Spensor certainly seems to know the AA scene, and there were some terrific AA lampoons, but I wanted more. Still, it was well worth reading.

Koko by Peter Straub. A thriller/NY Times bestseller - not my usual cup of tea. In fact, the only reason I picked this one up was because it won the 1989 World Fantasy award. I'm not sure why, because there's only the barest hint of any fantastic element. Still, it was a pretty good read, despite a rather contrived beginning. The further I got into it, the more I enjoyed it.

[Cadfael]

I have only read one Straub book, Ghost Story, and I only read that b/c of the movie, but I really enjoyed it... er... in fact I have read two, I read The Talisman, co-wrote with Stephen King, those two guys should get together again... really good stuff.

[Erebus]

I believe that King and Straub are planning a sequel to The Talisman.

If it's anything like the first, it should be worth the wait!

[AuntiePam]

Erebus -- you won't have to wait long. The sequel is called "Black House" and it's being released this fall. !! Someone said the publisher will have the first three chapters on their website in June.

[Rob B]

Black House The sequel to the Talisman is due out September 15 from Random House. Excerpts start soon. Donald M. Grant publishers (original publishers of the Dark Tower books will be doing a special edition http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif)

The only other Straub I read was Mr. X a couple of months ago, I enjoyed it.

I just ordered The Travelling Vampire Road Show by the late Richard Laymon.

I was really into horror for a while there devouring King, early Koontz and McCammom. Not so much lately, though.

[Cygnus]

I know this isn't a Peter Straub dedicated posting, but I just have to put my two cents in! Mystery is one of my favorite books of all time! That story haunts me like nothing else I've ever read. I was only 17 at the time that I read it, but I really connected to it. Ghost story had a similar effect on me, though it's been many years since I've read it. I didn't like Mr. X as much as his earlier work.

I've been reading just fantasy and science fiction for the past year, though going through these posts has me itching for a good horror story!

[AuntiePam]

I haven't read much straight horror lately. I'm not even sure what it is anymore.

Recent reads:

"Blood Crazy" by Simon Clark -- it's more of a post-apocalypse story than horror. I liked it.

"The Passion" and "The Promise" by Donna Boyd are werewolf stories, but there's no horror -- Boyd's take is that werewolves have always been with us. They're superior to humans, in fact. These books were more of a history of her werewolves rather than horror. They're quite good, if a bit romantic.

"Every Dead Thing" by John Connelly has a serial killer similar to Hannibal Lecter, but it's more of a thriller than horror.

Haven't read anything that gave me nightmares for a long, long time.

[Rob B]

Finished The Traveling Vampire Show the other day. Not bad, but I was a little disappointed after seeing/hearing good things about Laymon and the novel winning The Bram Stoker Award for best novel.

I kept thinking it was a prime candidate for being turned into one of those Scream/I Know What You Did Last Summer-type teen flicks.

[Cadfael]

I am about 2/3 of the way through Dreamcatcher by Stephen King at the moment, I can't decide whether I like this book or not... it is different from his other stuff... although I keep getting an It feeling about the book... in fact it is more SF than Horror.

[Zsinj16]

FitzFlagg, I can't tell you how much I hate those stupid, mindless teen flicks! **SHUDDER**
It just seems like a lot of these typical teen audiences have no imagination whatsoever! **OKAY, JUST CALM DOWN, ZSINJ, GET A GRIP ON YOURSELF. EVERYTHING'S GOING TO BE OKAY.** http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif