[AuntiePam]

Recommending this book, if you like stories with real atmosphere.

I don't mean atmosphere like in cobwebby haunted houses, but atmosphere like you find in descriptions of people and places that make you feel like you're right there.

I'm not quite finished with it yet, but so far there's no explicit gore, so the book might appeal to horror fans who are tired of splatterpunk.

It's quite chilling, actually, and I'm glad I picked it up.

The only other Cady I've read was The Well. That was good too. Hauntings was also recommended by Dave Silva at Hellnotes.

[Llama]

I agree. The OFF SEASON is also particularly good, migh be his best work.

[AuntiePam]

That's a different Jack -- Ketchum wrote Off Season.

But I'm glad you brought it up. I've had an impression of Ketchum's stuff as being explicit and gory rather than psychological. Is it?

[estranghero]

Pardon me?

I thought that Jack Cady wrote THE OFF-SEASON? Sez right there on the book cover. A pseudonym?

Strangely enough, Llama, I was just thinking about that book a couple of days ago and wondered if anyone on the boards read it. Really liked it for its refreshing quirkiness and pointed humour.

Best of all, I found it in a book sale. http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/wink.gif

[Llama]

A little confusion here. Cady wrote a book called THE OFF SEASON and Jack Ketchum wrote a book called OFF SEASON. I've read them both, actually. There's no resemblance whatsoever.

As to AuntiePam's question, Ketchum's novels are EXTREMELY explicit and gory (although this doesn't mean they are not "psychological"). But they are also excellent, in my opinion. Just be prepared to have to take a shower afterward.

[AuntiePam]

Thanks for clearing that up. I didn't even check the biblio in Cady's book or I'd have seen that. http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

[estranghero]

Hey AuntiePam, is HOOD CANAL also pointedly humourous or quirky? I liked Cady enough for that one book that I'm thinking of putting him on the 'keep-an-open-eye-for-any-other book' list when I go hunting.

Also, is there a biblio of his works haunting the web anywhere? http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/wink.gif

[AuntiePam]

www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/authors/Jack_Cady (http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/authors/Jack_Cady)

If my cut and paste worked, that url has a Cady bibliography. If it doesn't work, I went to www.google.com (http://www.google.com) and typed in his name.

Yeah, I thought Hauntings was humorous and quirky, but not in an artificial or contrived way. The funny quirky stuff fit the story.

Finished it last night and the ending was a complete surprise, but not the deux ex machina kind. I'm sure the hints were there.

My only complaint was some sloppy editing, but fairly minor stuff. A couple of places where "it's" should have been "its", stuff like that.

I'm pretty sure that Cady knows how to use commas but just chose to ignore the rules here. I gotta stop being so nitpicky. Great book.