Quote:
Originally Posted by D_Davis
Yeah, I think it would be quite something to pick up a little magazine that has some story called "The Shadow Over Innsmouth" inside it, and have absolutely no expectations whatsoever.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by D_Davis
Yeah, I think it would be quite something to pick up a little magazine that has some story called "The Shadow Over Innsmouth" inside it, and have absolutely no expectations whatsoever.
The past week I've been re-reading a bunch of my favorite parts of The Dark Tower series, and spending a lot of time reading all the DT wiki entries. Man, this is the greatest of all fantasies. So epic, powerful, exciting, and meaningful. I just need to read it again.
I read the prologue chapter of "John Dies at the End" and it was really good.
I may have to put "When a Heart Turns Rock Solid" on hold to read this.
Everyone in this thread knows that I grew up in Newburyport, which is a setting in Shadow Over Innsmouth, right?
I'm totally hooked on and loving "John Dies at the End".
Between last night and this afternoon I've nearly reached the halfway point.
It's one of the most purely entertaining books I've ever read. You can tell that the author had no idea of where he was going next, and he uses this to create a totally insane and wacky trip. It reminds of a book Tsui Hark might have written.Quote:
Originally Posted by megladon8
Quote:
Originally Posted by D_Davis
Pitch-perfect blend of horror and humor, too.
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Oh hell yeah - that part was epic. I was totally cracking up. Such an outrageous book.Quote:
Originally Posted by megladon8
Really glad you're digging it.
*Sigh*
Hate it that the title of this tread, "Horror, Fantasy, and other non-sci-fi genres..." doesn't quite include "detective."
Anyway, The Oxford Murders turns out surprisingly to be a very good book. And I just realize there is also a movie starred Elijah Wood and John Hurt.
And its tomatometer is at 10%. :|
I'm about 2/3 through "John Dies at the End" and I'm still loving it.
It's consistently funny, but more importantly, consistently intriguing. The story is interesting. Not that it has any particular depth to it, but there's always something happening that makes me want to know what happens next.
It's like a really good summer movie.
I also like that it makes some obvious references to Ghostbusters, since there have been several moments when I've been reading and thought to myself "screw a new Ghostbusters movie...this should be this generation's horror-comedy."
It's really got that vibe down pat. Lovecraftian horror, mixed with gut-busting sarcastic humor.
It's like a more vulgar Christopher Moore.
I tried to get into it, but couldn't. It just felt so... unambitious and generic to me.Quote:
Originally Posted by lovejuice
Should be coming sometime next year. Looking forward to it.Quote:
Originally Posted by megladon8
Are you referring to the book or the movie? I haven't watched the movie, but indeed the book starts off very generic, but it evolves into something quite amazing. Martinez successfully elaborates on Dostoevskian concept of abstract murder.Quote:
Originally Posted by monolith94
Loved "John Dies at the End". I'll echo D_Davi's sentiments and say it's one of the most entertaining reads I've ever experienced. From the first page to the last it's laugh-out-loud hilarious, and the final 75 pages provide some really interesting philosophical ideas.
I was also surprised by how good of a writer Wong was. While it's very Christopher Moore-ish in the way it blends horror with sarcastic wit, he proved to have a much more natural sounding voice.
I would almost describe this as the "Hichhiker's Guide" of horror. It lovingly pokes fun at many horror tropes, while simultaneously bringing new life to the genre with some thought-provoking ideas and an "absolutely anything can happen" philosophy.
Yep. I was thinking the same thing. And not that it simply copies Hitchhiker, because it doesn't. It actually possesses a similar quality that has made that book so endearing and timeless. I think we'll see the same thing happen for John. I'm almost positive that it'll enjoy the same kind of success. It will be kind of underground and niche for many years, but slowly and surely it will gain in popularity until it becomes one of those genre/geek/nerd rights of passage books, like Hitchhikers and The Illuminatus Trilogy.Quote:
Originally Posted by megladon8
Hell yeah! J.M McDermott has a new book coming out next year. His last book - Last Dragon - is far and away the best single fantasy novel I've ever read. A true bellwether of the genre - and it sold about 1,000 copies. McDermott's prose is remarkable, and the way he weaves the tale of the Last Dragon is entirely fresh and exciting. One day his name will be praised along side Tolkien and Wolfe, of this I am sure.
http://www.amazon.com/Never-Knew-Ano...tt_at_ep_dpt_2
Started a re-read of The Dark Tower last week. Man...The Gunslinger is so awesome.
Quote:
Originally Posted by D_Davis
Yeah, it's one of the greatest series' I have ever read. Consistently brilliant.
Have begun reading Brom's "The Plucker" since my copy of "The Lost City of Z" has yet to arrive.
It's kind of like if Tim Burton re-wrote Toy Story. Not too hot on Brom's prose so far, but he's undoubtedly a talented artist.
Approaching the halfway point in "The Plucker" and it's...okay.
I really don't like Brom's prose. The story feels best when he's writing it as a classically styled fairy tale. But then, out of nowhere, a character will say something like "What the hell is going on?" or "That's bullshit", and it completely kills any mood he had going.
So far it's most impressive as a picture book. The paintings are incredible, and he's created some very creepy creature designs.
Never heard of Brom.
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Originally Posted by D_Davis
He's an artist first, writer second.
He has three novels out now - the first was "The Plucker", then one called "The Devil's Rose" (which looks to pretty much be his version of "Ghost Rider"), and now "The Child Thief", his retelling of "Peter Pan".
His style (in both painting and writing) is that of someone who probably masturbates to The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Hmmm. Can't say this encourages me to seek him out.Quote:
Originally Posted by megladon8
Quote:
Originally Posted by D_Davis
I think you'll probably have just as good a Brom experience if you do a Google Image Search for his paintings.
His writing is quite awful.
So stoked! It shipped today.
http://img1.fantasticfiction.co.uk/i...74/n371355.jpg