Christmas 2021 antique store finds
I was in luck.......and picked up 11 vintage sci-fi titles for $2 to $4 each. Not all of these are gems, but they're short....... and that makes for quick reads, if nothing else.........
Tuesday, December 28, 2021
Christmas 2021 antique store finds
Friday, December 24, 2021
Book Review: Deadhead
Book Review: 'Deadhead' by Shaun Hutson
3 / 5 Stars
According to Grady Hendrix's 2017 book Paperbacks from Hell: The Twisted History of ‘70s and ‘80s Horror Fiction, the runaway success of Thomas Harris's 1988 novel The Silence of the Lambs turned paperback publishers away from printing horror titles and towards printing serial killer novels. The horror paperback boom of the 1980s dwindled, with Dell's 'Abyss' line of weird horror / psychological horror novels bravely waving the banner before closing up shop in 1995.
So perhaps that's why the UK's most prominent splatterpunk horror writer, Shaun Hutson, decided to venture into the serial killer genre with his 1993 novel 'Deadhead' (326 pp.).
'Deadhead' is set in London in the early 1990s. Hutson takes pains to depict this summertime London as a singularly unpleasant place, filled with bags of rotting garbage, choking under clouds of automotive exhaust, confounded by massive traffic jams, and peopled by surly, sweat-soaked urbanites.
Rounding out this catalog of unpleasantries are various deviants, perverts, and psychopaths who prey on the teenage runaways and drug addicts scrabbling for survival on the mean streets of the city. One group of these predators have a particularly nasty business plan: coercing runaways from the Ossulston Street hostel into performing in pornographic films.
But the true horror afflicting London in this hot and humid summer is the serial killer who specializes in murdering young people. Five mutilated corpses have been recovered, and the police have had little success in identifying, and stopping, the killer.
The protagonist of 'Deadhand' is a former policeman-turned-private-eye named Nick Ryan. Perhaps because he is a brutish and intimidating personage, Ryan's business is thriving, and as the novel opens he has more clients than he can handle. The only downside to his success as a businessman is the way it deprives him from spending time with his daughter Kelly, who lives with her mother - Ryan's ex-wife Kim - and Kim's husband, a wealthy businessman named Joseph Finlay.
As the events in 'Deadhand' unfold, the worlds of the serial killer, Nick Ryan, his daughter, and the pornographers gradually will coalesce.......in a most sinister way. For the pornographers are very well-connected with major figures in the London underworld: people who like to make lots of money off so-called 'snuff' films. People who have no qualms about eliminating anyone who crosses their path..........
'Deadhead' certainly comes across as a splatterpunk's approach to the serial killer genre: in the opening pages, Hutson gives us a charming vignette involving putrefaction, and vomit. But I finished the novel thinking that plot-wise it adheres more to the police procedural genre than the serial killer genre. In this regard Hutson crafts a capable read, although the regular insertion of melodramatic passages dealing with Nick Ryan's emotional travails with his daughter, ex-wife, and her new husband, tend to become distracting.
Hutson takes a deliberate, some might say protracted, approach to setting up his plot, but the closing pages of the book supply plenty of violent action, with descriptions of bullet-induced carnage sure to satisfy 'splat' fans.
Summing up, Hutson's followers will find 'Deadhead' worth their attention. I also imagine that readers who are partial to hardboiled police procedurals also will find the novel rewarding.
Wednesday, December 22, 2021
A Prescient Novel from 1990 ?
A Prescient Novel from 1990 ?
They say that the best science fiction projects a believable future.........?!
I'll have a review of 'Tracer' up within the next few weeks.
Monday, December 20, 2021
Book Review: Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn
Book Review: 'Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn'
edited by Robert Lynn Asprin
edited by Robert Lynn Asprin
'Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn' (299 pp.) was published by Ace Books in November 1980. The cover art is by Walter Velez.
This is the second volume of the Thieves' World shared world franchise. My review of the initial volume, Thieves' World, is available here.
The lineup of contributors to 'Vulgar' includes some from the first volume: Robert Asprin; his wife at the time, Lynn Abbey; and Andrew J Offutt. There are a bevy of franchise newcomers, all of whom were established sci-fi and fantasy writers at the time of publication.
All of the stories are of course set in and around the reeking alleys, taverns, and brothels of Sanctuary, the city of Thieves............
More than a few of the entries in 'Vulgar' have curiously stilted, at times wooden, prose, as if the authors, conscious that they were writing 'fantasy' stories, felt the use of too colloquial or informal a style would somehow not be legitimate. This was a common authorial stance when writing fantasy in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
There also is the frequent appearance of esoteric nouns and verbs, which, if nothing else, expanded my vocabulary.
My capsule summaries of the contents:
Spiders of the Purple Mage, by Philip Jose Farmer: housewife Masha has a price on her head, and the only way to cancel it involves a confrontation with one of the most feared men in the land..........
I approached this novelette with skepticism, given that its title is a play on Farmer's 1967 novelette 'Riders of the Purple Wage', one of the worst stories ever written during the New Wave era. But 'Purple Mage' is surprisingly good, and quite superior to 'Purple Wage' (which, to be fair, may not be saying all that much). I did find Farmer's allusions to child prostitution in Sanctuary to be more than a little creepy. But that stuff didn't raise eyebrows in 1980.........
'Goddess' by David Drake: Samlor the caravan master investigates the Temple of Heqt, where, it is rumored, all manner of depravities are practiced.
This story is the first time I've encountered the verb 'eeled' in a work of fiction.........?! Who would've thought that reading 'Thieves' World' could expand your vocabulary........ anyways, this story has a suitably grim edge to it. The Samlor character would go on to feature in Drake's 1988 Thieves' World novel Dagger.
The Fruit of Enlibar, by Lynn Abbey: Illyra the Seeress returns, this time to aid someone from her past in his search for information about a rare artifact. This story, which is well-plotted and well-written, introduced the noun 'querent' (i.e., one who consults with an astrologer) to my vocabulary.
The Dream of the Sorceress, by A. E. Van Vogt: Stulwig the healer finds himself the object of attention on the part of the god Vashanka; this is not a good thing. I never expect memorable storytelling from Van Vogt, but this contribution, while at times overly wordy and meandering, isn't that bad.
Vashanka's Minions, by Janet Morris: Following a visionary encounter with the god Vashanka, Tempus the Guardian sets some intrigues in motion.
This is the worst story in the anthology. Not only is it confusingly plotted, but it forces readers to negotiate remarkably obtuse paragraphs like this one:
Oh, he had heard endless persiflage about simultaneity – iteration, the constant redefining of the now by checking it against the future – alchemical laws of consonance….he had learned the axiom that Mind is unlimited and self-controlled, but all other things are connected; that nothing is completely separated off from any other thing; nor are things divided one from the other, except Mind.
'Persiflage' is defined as 'frivolous bantering talk'. Elsewhere in 'Vashanka's Minions' I was introduced to the adjective 'preclusive' (to prevent something from happening), and the gerund 'effluescing' (i.e., something that flows out; the act of flowing).
Shadow's Pawn, by Andrew Offutt: continuing the story thread of the previous tale, this one sees the thief Shadowspawn teaming up with Tempus to retrieve an unusual weapon.
To Guard the Guardians, by Robert Lynn Asprin: Zalbar, an officer in the Prince's elite guard, seeks to stop atrocities from being committed by a man held in favor by the said Prince. With a disturbing tenor and a surprise ending, this is another of the anthology's better entries.
Summing up, I found 'Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn' to be less impressive than the first volume in the series. 'Thieves' World' fans will want to have this volume, but I can't recommend it to the more casual fans of the franchise.
Friday, December 17, 2021
Hard-Boiled Defective Stories
Hard-Boiled Defective Stories
by Charles Burns
Pantheon Books / RAW, 1988
Last Fall I was fortunate to get the 1988 large-size trade paperback, published by Pantheon, for $3 for a copy in pretty good condition.
Burns's inventive and distinctive artwork also is on display in every panel of 'Hard-Boiled'.
Tuesday, December 14, 2021
The Magic Goes Away graphic novel
The Magic Goes Away
Paul Kupperberg (story) and Jan Duursema (art)
DC Science Fiction Graphic Novel, 1986
The plot revolves around a far-future Earth where magic has replaced science and the world is ruled by magicians, witches, and sorcerers. Unfortunately, mana - depicted as a natural resource - is dwindling, and with it the power of the mages. As the story opens a team of mages is bemoaning the shortage of mana and pondering ways to acquire more.
Most of the narrative is preoccupied with depicting conversations between the assorted mages and shamans and witches. It's a shame the writing is so miserable, because the artwork by Duursema, which even includes some 80s- style cheesecake, is well done.
Friday, December 10, 2021
Cruising by Nesmith
R.I.P. Mike Nesmith
1942 - 2021
Let's go back in time to the Summer of 1979, when Nesmith was a solo artist, and we heard his single 'Cruising' on the local FM radio station, WAAL.
The song never charted in the US but it had a great video clip that perfectly captured how it was in 1979, as well as a quirky sensibility that made it stand out from the New Wave rock ('My Sharona', by The Knack), disco ('Bad Girls', Donna Summer), and folk ( 'On the Roof', James Taylor), then in heavy rotation on the radio.
Lucy and Ramona, cruisin' through the jungles of L.A
Hopin' to promote a dream somewhere along the way
Rollin' through the streets, lookin' for a disco
Passin' up the treats from a kid named Cisco
Trying to make connections
With their blemish-free complexions
And just as fate would have it
They ended up with Sunset Sam
Sam was sellin' watches from a suitcase on a TV tray
And Lucy and Ramona were tryin' to figure out if he was gay
The three of them were standing, staring at each other
When the light behind their eyes blew each other's cover
The ancient code was branded
And each of them was handed
A ticket to their kingdom
'Cause they saw their brother Sunset Sam
Lucy and Ramona and Sunset Sam
People on the streets tryin' to find a plan
People on the streets lookin' for the land
Lucy and Ramona and their brother Sunset Sam
Lucy was from Compton and she met Ramona at the zoo
Ramona was from Brooklyn, but she left when she was twenty-two
Sam was a native of the Arizona desert
But he split when he was slated for some governmental make-work
Their differences subsided when the common bond was sighted
They were all from the same place
That made the famous Sunset Sam
Lucy and Ramona and Sunset Sam
People on the streets tryin' to find a plan
People on the streets lookin' for the land
Lucy and Ramona and their brother Sunset Sam
Yes it's Lucy and Ramona and Sunset Sam
People on the streets tryin' to find a plan
People on the streets just lookin' for the land
Lucy and Ramona and their brother Sunset Sam
Book Review: Counting the Cost
Book Review: 'Counting the Cost' by David Drake
'Counting the Cost' (267 pp.) first published in November, 1987 by Baen Books. The cover illustration is by Paul Alexander.
'Counting' is short, as novels go; this Baen Books edition uses larger font to pad its length to over 260 pages.
This is an entry in Drake's 'Hammer's Slammers' franchise. In my experience the Slammers titles usually merit a three star or above rating, but this particular novel was a disappointment.
The premise: the planet Bamberia has been colonized by contingents of Christians and Muslims. The co-existence of the two populations has become increasingly strained due to the Muslim's increasing control of the tobacco-growing operations that are the main source of Bamberia's revenue. In possession of the planet's major metropolitan center, the city of Bamberg, the Christian contingent has the financial wherewithal to mount a crusade against the Muslims. Leading the campaign will be the galaxy's most potent mercenary force: Hammer's Slammers.
As 'Counting' opens, Captain Tyl Koopman arrives at the spaceport in Bamberg, and is assisted in getting his bearings by United Defense Battery Lieutenant Charles Desoix. It seems that all is not well in Bamberg: led by Bishop Trimer, an insurgency within the Christian caucus has grown more bold in its demands for power. The government, led by President John Delcorio, is hesitant and unsure in its response.
When violent riots, involving thousands of angry citizens, roil the streets of Bamberg, despite their intentions to remain neutral, Koopman and Desoix find themselves obliged to act. Can they negotiate a solution to the conflict......... or will a massacre be imminent ?
I found 'Counting' to be mediocre. Author Drake seems to have been intent on making this novel a departure from his other Slammer's works, focusing more on characterization and setting than military action. Unfortunately this leads to a static narrative, one that is overly centered on passages dealing with political and personal conflicts and intrigues. Dialogue passages can be wooden, and the metaphors and similes awkward:
The pre-load burped out like an angry katydid.
I found the best part of 'Counting' to be the novel's Afterward, titled 'How They Got That Way', in which Drake relates his experiences in Vietnam. As an Army Intelligence staffer, he was assigned to an armored regiment and gained familiarity with tanks and an appreciation for the dilemmas associated with their use. Drake also discusses how his early efforts at submitting Slammers stories to the magazine market were unsuccessful, but with luck and perseverance, by the end of the 1970s he had demonstrated his qualities to editors and launched his career as a writer.
The verdict ? Even die-hard Hammer's Slammers fans are going to find this novel slowly paced, and I don't see non-fans liking it much, either.
Tuesday, December 7, 2021
Tapestry of Blood
Tapestry of Blood
by Ed Fedory (script) and Jose Rubio (art)
from Nightmare issue 15, October 1973
Jose Rubio was a Spanish artist who, as a member of the Selecciones Ilustradas agency, provided artwork to numerous American publishers during the 1970s.
Saturday, December 4, 2021
Book Review: Atrocity Week
Book Review: 'Atrocity Week' by Andrew McCoy
2 / 5 Stars
'What is it ?' Cameron demanded. Pacoe's body was blocking his curious view.
'Holland and Holland 600 Nitro Express', Curtis Bill told him.
'Jesus !'
Decker spoke softly, persuasively. 'Look, you can't hunt niggers with that elephant gun. What I mean is.....Look, this fucking cannon would blow a nigger into fine bits and there would be nothing left.'
'You wouldn't be able to take photographs afterwards' Curtis Bill added softly behind Pasoce.
Pascoe turned on him. 'But it's all I have ! I got six of them.' He sounded as if he were about to burst into tears, his face crumbling massively, his eyes watery.
The above excerpt communicates the quintessence of 'Atrocity Week'..............
'Atrocity Week' first was published in 1978 in the UK by Sphere. Subsequently Warner Books released a U.S. version in 1979, and Grafton, another UK edition in 1984.
As a work of proto-splatterpunk, 'Atrocity Week' has gotten curiously little attention from the chroniclers of that genre of literature. The 'Splatterpunk Files' website doesn't mention it, and neither does Paul Sammon in his essay 'Outlaws', from his 1991 book Splatterpunks: Extreme Horror. So I nobly took it upon myself to acquire a copy and read and review it.
'Andrew McCoy' is the pen name used by the South African writer André Jute McCoy (b. 1945), who has published a number of novels, most of them set in Africa and dealing with wildlife, safaris, and big-game hunting. Other titles, such as 'Sinkhole' (1982) and 'Eight Days in Washington' (1986), as by Andre Jute, are thrillers. Jute's 1987 book 'Writing A Thriller' (1987) is an instructional text.
'Atrocity' is set in South Africa in the late 1970s. Chris Decker and Curtis Bill Bonham run a safari adventure firm called Ultimate Test, Inc., with a well-equipped base camp on the bank of the Limpopo River.
Decker and Bonham charge their clients a hefty fee for their safari services. But then, Decker and Bonham don't offer their clients the usual hunting experience. For Ultimate Test, Inc. gives its clients the thrill of hunting humans...........in particular, black African men who are unlucky enough to be discovered crossing the veldt with nothing more threatening than a shield and a spear.
[ Needless to say, a novel that takes as its centerpiece the hunting of 'niggers' by wealthy white and Asian men who crisscross the terrain in a helicopter, high-powered rifles in hand, is transgressive in every sense of the word. ]
Decker and Bonham have taken scrupulous care to conceal their activities from the South African authorities. But Idi Amin, dictator of Uganda and the leader of black Africa, has learned of the existence of Ultimate Test, and he has ordered a force of guerillas to descend on the camp and eliminate its inhabitants. Of course, Amin would prefer that none of the people at Ultimate Test die quickly........
McCoy clearly intended 'Atrocity Week' to be over the top in terms of its reliance on explicit descriptions of the torture, and violent deaths, of men and animals. These are salted with pornographic passages describing rough sex and rape. So there is no doubt that 'Atrocity Week' deserves enshrinement (if that's the right word) in the Splatterpunk Canon.
But as a novel, 'Atrocity' is something of a dud. The middle section of the book belabors one manhunt after another, while reminding the reader on a regular basis that the manhunters truly are reprehensible people.
The confrontation with the guerillas doesn't start until page 254 of the Grafton edition, and while the ensuing chapters deliver considerable action, and would seem sufficient to end the novel in an effective manner, author McCoy elects to prolong the narrative past a logical stopping point. He introduces additional chapters that feature plotting so contrived, and so dependent on comic book-style coincidence, that they undermine the narrative and induce eye-rolling on the part of the reader all the way to the final paragraph.
[ For another review of 'Atrocity Week', readers are directed to the Trash Menace blog (warning: that review has some spoilers). ]
Summing up, if you are among the cognoscenti of splatterpunk or 'shock' literature, then searching out 'Atrocity Week' may be worth your while. All others can pass on this novel.
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