Subtitled "Do You R'Lyeh Want to Hurt Me?" Good end(sort-of) to the irreverent series. Featuring guest appearances by Cthulhu, Yog-Sothoth, the Mi-Go.Subtitled "Do You R'Lyeh Want to Hurt Me?" Good end(sort-of) to the irreverent series. Featuring guest appearances by Cthulhu, Yog-Sothoth, the Mi-Go. While this does wrap up the Mistress of the Dark's encounter with the ghost of Howard Phillips Lovecraft, it still ends on a cliffhanger of a sort, providing a setup for the next series - ELVIRA MEETS BETTIE PAGE! 3.5 stars....more
Probably my favorite installment of the series thus far, as our wise-cracking, fourth wall-breaking heroine enters the Dreamlands, Necronomicon in hanProbably my favorite installment of the series thus far, as our wise-cracking, fourth wall-breaking heroine enters the Dreamlands, Necronomicon in hand, one step ahead of Nyarlathotep and the ghost of HP Lovecraft. Chock full of (often tongue-in-cheek) assorted beings from the Mythos (and not just HPL's creations either) as well as the appearance of another deceased author. Slightly deficient in punk rock librarians, but otherwise excellent. Solid 4 stars....more
A decent addition to the series, but I didn't enjoy this as much as the previous two issues. It was funny, but not AS funny. Did like the introductionA decent addition to the series, but I didn't enjoy this as much as the previous two issues. It was funny, but not AS funny. Did like the introduction of the Dreamlands to the story. Low 3 stars. Evidently August Derleth has an estate that is litigious enough for the author to change the writer's name to "October Grendel."...more
Second issue in the series as Elvira and the possibly rehabilitated ghost of HPL search for the REAL Necronomicon, opposed by the bumbling minions of Second issue in the series as Elvira and the possibly rehabilitated ghost of HPL search for the REAL Necronomicon, opposed by the bumbling minions of Nyarlathotep (Whose dialogue reminds me of old issues of "The Tick") and a monstrous descendant of the Dunwich Horror. I'll admit that I started reading this series when I found of that this issue has a character (punk rock librarian Sara Oaks) inspired by an awesome friend of mine. Thus far, not disappointed; it's well-drawn, funny, and with lots of references to HPL's stories and snarky asides. 4 stars on this one....more
Humorous combination of Lovecraftian horror and classic Elvira, that doesn't shy away from HPL's problematic history ("You're a creepy, racist ghost wHumorous combination of Lovecraftian horror and classic Elvira, that doesn't shy away from HPL's problematic history ("You're a creepy, racist ghost with terrible manners and I don't trust you ."). The dialogue is funny and Elvira regularly breaks the fourth wall. This feels like a "sequel" (?) to the "Elvira Meets Vincent Price" series, as she makes reference to Mr. Price and apparently has encountered Nyarlathotep's hench-goons before. The creepiness comes across in some of the monster illustrations but genre here is is definitely humor rather than horror. 3.5 stars. This is from the DTF version not Kindle, but couldn't find that edition on Goodreads....more
Fast read but felt kind of young adult-y. I'll be charitable and give it a low 3 stars since it didn't require a big time investment.Fast read but felt kind of young adult-y. I'll be charitable and give it a low 3 stars since it didn't require a big time investment....more
Darkly humourous take on the military space opera genre. Written in the mid-Sixties, of course part of it is set in "Space Nam." Very cynical. It feelDarkly humourous take on the military space opera genre. Written in the mid-Sixties, of course part of it is set in "Space Nam." Very cynical. It feels like Harrison used some of the ideas in this story in his later novel THE STAINLESS STEEL RAT GETS DRAFTED....more
I enjoyed this, but not quite as much as the previous three novels in the series. Similar format with cosmic horror, humorous descriptions, and some oI enjoyed this, but not quite as much as the previous three novels in the series. Similar format with cosmic horror, humorous descriptions, and some of the most incompetent heroes in the genre. This one has even more time travel and alternate timelines than the earlier books, which is saying a lot. Also, a lot of cursed toys. 3.5 stars....more
"David Wong" still has it. Excellent continuation of the series. As with the predecessor, the story combines (often gruesome) cosmic horror with wacky"David Wong" still has it. Excellent continuation of the series. As with the predecessor, the story combines (often gruesome) cosmic horror with wacky hijinks and humorously evocative descriptions. This one, though, goes further into the narrator's issues: in the first two books, his attitude is a generally laid back "Hey, I'm an irresponsible fuckup who gets involved with distressing regularity in weird shit," but by this book, he's starting to suspect that maybe that's not 100% great. He's also wrestling with (chemical?) depression. This all makes him seem more real as a person. Don't worry, though. "John" is still the same dude, doing drugs, bragging about his penis, and shooting monsters with a dildo gun. I love the author's turn of phrase, but I'd like to give a special shoutout to his descriptions of voices. For example "The 'man' with the Toblerone gun had screamed 'WHERE IS IT?' in a voice like a spider that had learned to imitate human speech via some online courses it had taken," "The answer was a series of deep rumbles, like the sound a mountain would make if it had gotten woken up in the middle of the night by the neighbor's loud music." and "In a voice that sounded like a colon tumor that had grown a mouth, the cloak said..." Solid 4 stars....more
More wacky cosmic horror from "David Wong." I love the way that the story isboth horrific AND complex, but still funny as hell. I could see another auMore wacky cosmic horror from "David Wong." I love the way that the story isboth horrific AND complex, but still funny as hell. I could see another author writing essentially the same story and it being straight horror, but the descriptions and dialogue mitigate the grimness - or at least provoke involuntary guffaws in the midst of a particularly gruesome zombie apocalypse. The fact that "David" and "John" are such colossal dumbasses doesn't hurt either....more
Weird, funny, and horrific in turns. The writing and dialogue reminded me of old Neal Stephenson (ZODIAC, SNOW CRASH). Lots of twists, some that I wasWeird, funny, and horrific in turns. The writing and dialogue reminded me of old Neal Stephenson (ZODIAC, SNOW CRASH). Lots of twists, some that I was expecting, others not so much. Solid 4 stars. Interested in reading the sequels. ...more
Second-to-last installment in the Warlock Holmes series. As always, this book is a collection of short stories, irreverently based (to varying degreesSecond-to-last installment in the Warlock Holmes series. As always, this book is a collection of short stories, irreverently based (to varying degrees) on the original Arthur Conan Doyle mysteries. These continue to develop Watson's relationship with Holmes, Holmes' potentially apocalyptic relationships with an accountable number of demons and dead gods, more information about Moriarty's organization and past history, as well as Denning's take on the Seven Per-Cent Solution (although in this series, Watson is the addict, and the injections are blood infused with mummified Persian sorcerer). The stories are weird and funny and bring encounters with an anti-Napoleonic murder monkey, a greed demon, Italian secret societies, shapechanging whalers, Pinkerton Nazgul (well, sort of), literal steampunks, and a giant manhunting demon-bug. 3.5 stars....more
I'm still enjoying the series, but I felt like some of the stories in this collection were a bit too deliberately "wacky," especially "The Reigateway I'm still enjoying the series, but I felt like some of the stories in this collection were a bit too deliberately "wacky," especially "The Reigateway to Another World" and "The Adventure of the Solitary Tricyclist." On the other hand, "Silver Blaze: Murder Horse" was just so over the top that it was awesome. Only "The Adventure of the Blackened Beryls" and the novella-length "The Hell-Hound of the Baskervilles" really contributed to the ongoing Warlock Holmes story (the later gives a lot of background, including details about Holmes' relationship with evil sorcerer Moriarty). Overall I'll give this installment a solid 3 stars (slightly less good than the first book of the series)....more
Another humorous installment in the "Warlock Holmes" series. Many of the stories share a connection through the missing (but hotly pursued) lifeforce Another humorous installment in the "Warlock Holmes" series. Many of the stories share a connection through the missing (but hotly pursued) lifeforce of the dead (ish?) Moriarty, but there's still room for all sorts of shenanigans and weirdness - including zombified ministers of Her Majesty's Government, an evil Christmas goose, an incompetent demonic butler, Indo-Brazilian Super-Gonorrhea, skull hair spiders, an aristocratic German octopus monster, electrified clothing, and a school for (evil) wizardry, not to mention the recreational smoking the shredded remains of a mummified Persian sorcerer. Readers are also treated to a story penned by Holmes himself and the reappearance of Irene Adler ("The Woman") As with the previous books, Denning's writing is hysterically funny. 3.5 stars....more
Normally, a graphic novel about anthropomorphic cats would not really be my thing, but the art is excellent and the history surprisingly good. The stoNormally, a graphic novel about anthropomorphic cats would not really be my thing, but the art is excellent and the history surprisingly good. The story is set in Prohibition-era St. Louis and basically the only difference between the world of Lackadaisy and our own is that the people are felines rather then primates. The author also includes historical notes relevant to the story, from major events to such seemingly minor details as floor period construction and windshield wipers. 4 stars....more
Entertaining mix of the eternal struggle between Heaven and Hell, time travel, and classical Greek Mythology. While the authors are playing fast and lEntertaining mix of the eternal struggle between Heaven and Hell, time travel, and classical Greek Mythology. While the authors are playing fast and loose with history, it is obvious that the Faust in this book is primarily based on the protagonist of Goethe's 19th Century play (rather than the historical Johann Georg Faust or the Doctor Faustus from Christopher Marlowe's 16th Century "The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus"). Wacky hijinks ensue (as they say) when Mephistopheles mistakes an expelled divinity student and small time criminal as the famous doctor, sparking a whirlwind adventure/chase (the real Faust isn't going to give up HIS chance to be seduced by the powers of darkness without a fight) through history (4th Crusade Constantinople, the French Revolution, Elizabethan London, the palace of Kublai Khan, Renaissance Florence), Heaven, Hell, Limbo, and the Greek Underworld. Very tongue in cheek. This is the second book of the series, but can be read as a stand-alone (I haven't read BRING ME THE HEAD OF PRINCE CHARMING), although events of the previous novel are alluded to. 3.5 stars....more
As always, Brown is a joy to read, and this book is no exception. It feels less like reading a history book than it does being trapped with a manic toAs always, Brown is a joy to read, and this book is no exception. It feels less like reading a history book than it does being trapped with a manic tour guide who jumps rapidly from topic to topic as the mood strikes him. In addition to The George itself, this book discuses Southwark, London Bridge, the Thames, watermen, coaching inns, taverns, alehouses in general, the Canterbury Tales, Charles Dickens, the British justice system, beer and breweries, theaters, bear baiting, cockfighting, stagecoaches, freight wagons, railroads, highwaymen, the British postal service, parliamentary elections, the National Trust, the National Front, the BBC, the Blitz, ghosts, and hipsters. Be warned that this book has little to do with Shakespeare (if, in fact, he ever actually drank in the George at all). 4 stars....more
The subtitle is a bit of a misnomer - while the technologies included in this book have all been the subject (and often staples) of various science fiThe subtitle is a bit of a misnomer - while the technologies included in this book have all been the subject (and often staples) of various science fiction stories, they range from the fevered dreams of futurists (the space elevator, teleportation, space mirrors), to inventions that are still progressing towards the mid-20th Century view of the FUTURE (smart houses, moving sidewalks, robotic servants, self-steering cars), to inventions that fell out of use (the zeppelin, smell-o-vision, the unisex jumpsuit), and ideas that just haven't worked out too well (jetpacks, ray guns, hoverboards, food pills). Each chapter includes the SF concept, the history of its development in real life (or lack thereof), and the science behind it. It's a quick book and the authors have a snaky turn of phrase that makes it a pleasure to read, but don't look for in-depth science. Published in 2007, it's already a bt dated, but what do you want for a popular look at cutting-edge technology? Solid 3 stars....more
Companion collection to OLD MARS, a selection of contemporary short stories based on the "old school" view of Venus before we discovered that it was aCompanion collection to OLD MARS, a selection of contemporary short stories based on the "old school" view of Venus before we discovered that it was actually a toxic hellhole. Because of the heavy cloud cover, people used to believe that our neighboring planet had a huge amount of water. These stories are set on a Venus that has a breathable atmosphere, is either mostly ocean or mostly jungle and swamp, and is subject to constant rain and storms. Unlike the Mars of OLD MARS, Venus doesn't always have intelligent natives, but does have large amounts of life (often dangerous) - giant sea creatures, dinosaur-like reptiles, huge plants, and fungi. Conflict between the US and Russia is a common theme in a number of these stories. Some of the authors from OLD MARS are also in this collection, although only one story ("The Godstone of Venus" by Mike Resnick) has the same characters. Mostly good stories (no real duds). I especially liked "Planet of Fear," "Greeves and the Evening Star," "Frogheads," and "The Tumbledowns of Cleopatra Abyss." Solid 3 stars....more
