Alejandro Delgadillo
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Funland, a unique horror novel
I have only read a part of “Beast House” series and was unimpressed. The stock characters, predictable setting and the equally obvious monster. However “Funland” was different in a lot of ways from, what I have read of his “Beast House” series. It’s a book that offers us a cast of characters that is so to say the least eclectic and none the readers opinion of them shifts throughout the book. You find yourself rooting against and then for the same characters throughout as they stumble through their adolescent choices.
Peter Straub’s Dark Matter, should be left in the dark
Straub’s story revolves around a group of college friends, whom during the turbulence of the sixties engaged in an occult ritual. The Ritual led by a nomadic charlatan-guru named Mallon, who insinuates himself into the group of teenagers. This ritual results in the death of one student and effects the rest of the group in subtle ways, such as blinding one member over a period of years.
Tad Williams: Otherland an information age dystopia
Tad Williams’ Otherland series is a unique combination of science fiction, mythology and fantasy. It sounds like a hodgepodge of genres and yet, it is one of the finest collection of books that I’ve read. Williams presents us with a dystopia, south africa still licking it’s wounds from overthrowing apartheid. A lot of the focus is on the virtual reality-online service that is offered in almost every home. Allowing people to browse, research, play with an interface who’s sophistication is only limited by money. The virtual reality is able to provide audio, tactile, scent and video input directly to the user. The most basic equipment limiting user to video and audio input.
Walking Dead Downloadable Game, Xbox 360
The Walking Dead brought to us by Telltale games for PS3 and Xbox 360. I’d heard good things about the game(s) from a friend and decided to give it a chance. The graphics caught my attention right away, comic book like coloring overlaid on 3d models. The graphics over all are enjoyable and almost cheery despite the post apocalyptic subject matter.
Coraline, Neil Gaiman
I immensely enjoyed Gaiman’s “Books Of Magic” and “Sandman” , however this would be the first novel i’ve read of his. In “Coraline” Gaiman’s usual dark and dry sense of humor translates beautifully into a children’s tale, lending a gothic feel.
Book Review: Books Of Blood, Volumes 1-3
Anthologies, short stories, collections are all descriptions that I usually steer clear of. I generally avoid short stories in favor of full novels, I like the chance to settle down with a story. The leisure of getting to know the characters, understanding the setting and time and setting of a story. Barker manages to write a series of unique horror stories. The most riveting of which is the book’s name sake, a story of a fraud who is punished by being inscribed with the confessions of the unsettled dead.