Book Review: Dracula in Love by John Shirley

Dracula in Love By John Shirley

283 pages Zebra Paperback Out of Print

I've waited along time to read this novel. John Shirley is my favorite author in many ways. This novel while published second I believe it was it was his first completed novel. It is one of the few early novels that Shirley has not put back into print so I have spent years combing used book stores looking for a copy. I finally found one in Minnesota at the famous Sci-fi bookstore Dreamhaven. But it was in perfect shape so I put it on the shelf and protected it. I was not able to read it until I found a second reading copy at Smith's family books in Eugene.

I am excited to finally read it. Certainly I can as a long time Shirley fan see the imense growth he has made as writer but I was impressed with how strong of a novel it was for his first effort. The novel starts off with a very Stoker feel, Shirley is a master at matching styles. He completed a unfinished Poe story “The Eye” with several others in a collection and Shirley's was one of of the versions that sounded the most like Poe.

This is important as the first two chapters have a very Stoker feeling to then as Shirley sets up the main character Vladimir Horescu, who was raised wealthy but with out parents. The novel kicks with a letter Vlad receives from a man claiming to not only to be his father but the infamous Count Dracula. His father is coming to San Francisco, it seems he has been hanging out in NOLA as vampire have a habit of doing. Vlad is not exactly excited about dad. The most interesting part of the story is when Lucifer shows and wants Vlad to help him destroy Dracula.

This is an early work for Shirley and he is clearly not as refined of an author as we saw in book he wrote soon after like City-come- Walkin.' That said it is still really good. The characters are well developed with massive dumps of backstory that some authors bog books down with. Had This book come later Shirley's career I think the characters motivations might have been more clear. Lucifer came a far more interesting and frightening character to me.

An interesting aspect of the novel is the effect Dracula has on the community, with his presence coming an almost city wide blood ending in an increase in sexual violence. This is a very interesting part of the novel that I think a more season Shirley might have explored. Being an early novel I wondered if the early drafts had more exploring this issue that editors might have toned down.

That may be crazy talk as this novel has it's share of extremely graphic violence and sexuality. There is one moment that involves a person impaled that really had me cringing. This is out of print and hard to find so I suggest that huge Shirley fans make the effort, if your new to Shirley you should stick to the classics still in print.

Story review: Deth Pitt by Gina Ranalli

Deth Pitt by Gina Ranalli Kindle Single

So I don't normally write reviews of short stories, but Gina is selling this story as a kindle single. I jumped on it because I planned to read on a flight, single sitting and it is perfect for that.

This is a gonzo Sci-fi story set in a post alien-invasion near future. Humans are mostly turned into puppets with chips in their brains that make them docile. The main character has a stolen chip and idenity he smokes and drinks in hiding trying to fake that he is a drone.

The humans who resist are turned into contestants in a reality show that takes place with the people trying to escape a mass grave. There are amusing parts but what makes this story effective is how disgusting and disturbing the pitt is.

This is a cool sample of Gina's work but I found start with her amazing House of Fallen Trees which is just a wonderful horror novel. She also an absurdist satire Wall of Kiss or a crazy dystopia called Mother Puncher that I think are the place to go. I would start there, but make it to Deth Pitt eventually OK.

Top Ten Classic Bizarro Sci-Fi novels #9 keeps Portland weird in the 22nd century

Over the summer I did a ten week countdown of my favorite horror novels of all time. I had fun doing it and seems based on the numbers that a lot of people were were reading them. I enjoyed the discussions and so I decided to do another top down. So here are some rules, one book by each author because in this list it runs the risk of becoming the Philip K.Dick list. The second rule is nothing published in the 21st century. There are great gonzo sci-fi novels released in the last thirteen years for sure, The Skinner by Neal Asher and Dr. Identity by D.Harlan Wilson are great examples. They are great but we are talking old school now. The more weird the better, they can be serious or totally funny, the most important thing is that they are bizarro and awesome.

10. Shockwave Rider By John Brunner

Number 9 is :

Release: 1978

The Plot: The plot centers on "The barrier" a huge shield erected as a nuclear defense over the united states in 1989. This book takes place in 22 century two hundred years after a nuclear conflict devastates the world outside the barrier. The U.S. has broken up into several city states that are each very different and all of them are at war with at least one other city. Beyond the barrier is a mystery, is nature claiming the earth, has chaos taken over?

The main character Ben Rackey moves pretty freely working as a professional instigator for corporations and states that pay him. Ben is is hired to steal a device, the "Exciter" which can be used to direct individuals and crowds by enhancing their strong emotions of anger, saddness etc. Ben sees this device as the keep to accomplish his lifetime goal to bring down the barrier.

The Weirdest Aspect: Transmaniacon is super nutso off the wall original work of pre-cyberpunk science fiction that is like no other book I can think of. It is also a great work out-of -date old school science fiction. Some of the things you'll find in this novel include Fly and owl shaped -nul grav cars, Dolphin pilots who lead blood cults, fist fights with conjoined octuplets, two century old frozen biker gangs, Musac used as a sedative, motor controlled mindless slaves, brainwashed mercenaries, and my personal favorite - the flesh tractors which are genetically engineered giant hands that are used as beasts of burdens.

What does it say about our world? Transmaniacon is early work and does not show the mastery of political allegory that Shirley became. There is alot being said here, I took from it a subtle message of the negatives of US isolationism. A basic statement against the status quo most of all it is an excellent and imaginative piece of speculative fiction.

Bottom line is it good? Oh yes this novel is great, and sadly unlike most of Shirley's back catalog it is not in print and pretty hard to find. The level of strange environments and original creations range from the disturbing to the hilarious. The tone shifts dark socially political themes to almost Douglas Adams-ish humor. I think so much of this novel has been made out of date by the progress of years since it's release. Shirley updated his Cyberpunk Trilogy match the collapse of the Soviet Union and other things. I think Shirley has avoided updating this novel for that reason. Too bad, one of the things I dig about old school Sci-fi is things that are out of date and sometimes pre-date the future we now live in.

Transmaniacon is an excellent 70's gonzo Science fiction novel. It is not Shirley's best Science Fiction novel but it is absolutely his weirdest. If you like old school pre-bizarro but totally bizarro speculative fiction it has to be on the list.

The Author: William Gibson called John Shirley's “City Come a Walkin'” the cyberpunk patient zero. That book is weird as hell and a total masterpiece. It is up there with anything on this list. Shirley has a long career in both Science Fiction and horror (His novel Wetbones was my #1 horror novel of all time). All of his science fiction have strange original concepts and many such as a A Splendid Chaos, Demons, and Silicon Embrace are all worthy of this list.

An interesting note: 2013 is the year that one of his stranger sci-fi books Three Ring Psychus takes place in. I have not read it yet but I believe it is about a future society where overpopulation is dealt with by a partial cancellation of Gravity. Weird huh? Reading that one soon.

Honorable mention of the week:

Destination:void by Frank Herbert.

David Agranoff is the author of two published novels the Wuxia Pan style horror fantasy crossover "Hunting The Moon Tribe," and the satire "The Vegan Revolution With Zombies. He is also the author of the Wonderland award short story collection "Screams From a Dying World." His next novel Boot Boys of the Wolf-Reich is due to be released soon by Deadite press.

Book Review: Bullettime by Nick Mamatas

Bullettime by Nick Manatas

209 pages Paperback Chizine Publicactions

This is an excellent short but powerful novel, from young raising star in genre fiction Nick Mamatas. This author first got on my radar from being on panels throughout last year's HP Lovecraft fest. I enjoyed his take on things and had a few short conversations with him. I knew I wanted to check out his work. While more interested in his forthcoming book and Stoker award winning novel Move Underground, it was Bullettime that came across my desk first. I very glad I dug into this interesting book which is fast read, infact I really read in two days (A week apart, but two days of serious reading) Yeah it's short, but I read it that fast because it was engaging and funny at the same time.

This is dark humor no doubt, with a serious subjects like mental illness and school shootings I got the impression that a lot more is going on in this novel than on the surface. I am pleased to feel that some elements might have gone over my head, in the personal elements Manatas brought to the story of a bullied kid from his hometown.

This novel is the story of David a Jersey City high school student going to school in the shadow of NYC. He is bullied constantly and he is parents are only barely more than insane housemates. Things change a bit when he meets Erin, who he starts a relationship with, but could not really be called a girlfriend. The story jumps around in time exploring possible out comes as Manatas explores possible outcomes choices he may or may not make leading to a violent reaction to his school experience.

I laughed a lot during this novel, but I also found many parts disturbing. It is an effecting work, as it should be. Mamatas has a way with words, a biting wit. The book makes a lot of comparisons between Prison and high school. Speaking as someone with experience with both I find these comparisons to be hyperbole, but one the narrator would make so I can live with that.

I had a strange meta moment while reading the climax of the novel that envisions a mass school shootings. I was at work at the time, supporting a assisted living cilent. He was eating his lunch in the Clackamas town Center food court. It wasn't until I was sitting there reading book that I looked up and realized that it was the same spot where I was sitting a year earlier when a youth came in the food court and shot three people. He was only bimped out of the national headlines when another psycho upped the insanity by shooting up a elementary school in Newtown less than a week later.

I respect the fact that this weird genre piece is tackling a tough issue like school shootings, but it is possible that is so well written the message way fly straight over the heads of the kids who could really use the message. Hell, perhaps I am over stating the message. I am new to this author I not sure if message is his thing or not. The one thing I am sure of is I will read more Nick Mamatas and suggest you check out his fiction too.

Top ten classic bizarro Sci-fi novels #10 Proto-Cyberpunk kicks off the list!

My top ten classic Bizarro Science Fiction novels!

Over the summer I did a ten week countdown of my favorite horror novels of all time. I had fun doing it and seems based on the numbers that a lot of people were were reading them. I enjoyed the discussions and so I decided to do another top down. So here are some rules, one book by each author because in this list it runs the risk of becoming the Philip K.Dick list. The second rule is nothing published in the 21st century. There are great gonzo sci-fi novels released in the last thirteen years for sure, The Skinner by Neal Asher and Dr. Idenity by D.Harlan Wilson are great examples. They are great but we are talking old school now. The more weird the better, they can be serious or totally funny, the most important thing is that they are bizarro and awesome.

This list will have a more structured format. Enjoy.format. Enjoy. Number # 10 is:

Shockwave Rider by John Brunner

Released: 1976

The plot: Uh OK, here goes. This novel takes place in a digital America in the 21st century. There is a place and it is hard to tell if it is real or virtual, probably both called Tarnover. It is there that hyper intelligent children are brought up to hack the Data-net which is the computer system that runs throughout the world.

The main character is Nickie Halflinger who is on the run constantly changing his identity. Eventually he learns there is a resistance movement fighting against Tarnover.

The weirdest aspect: This novel is totally surreal. Not only does this novel take place in a highly surreal cyberspace it is one envisioned by a writer in 1975.

What does it say about our world? The most insane part is how much of the future Brunner nailed. The Data-net in the novel is basically the internet. This novel is very much about a computer virus, infact this book is often given credit for the use of the term worm. In this novel the wonders of a digitally connected world is explored and questioned. Privacy is gone as the Data-net connects the world on-line. In 1976 Brunner suggested the idea that Big Brother wasn't watching, that the citizens were plugging in and giving away all their data to Big Brother willingly. Sound familiar?

With Facebook, Twitter, and the connectedness of the Iphones it is amazing just how much Brunner has to say about today.

Bottom line is it good? Considered one of Brunner's three masterpieces Shockwave Rider is a great proto Cyberpunk novel. It is not light reading. It is so weird and surreal I found the first 2/3 of the book to be a bit of a challenge. The constant changing of the main characters identity and his adventures on the data-stream makes for a very surreal feeling. Not to mention the story is told in non-linear flash backs. I am not the only reader who wondered am I not smart enough to follow this? The last third of the book pays off your patience. There are many pieces of the story that don't seem to make sense that come together perfectly in the final act.

The Author: John Brunner was a British science fiction writer active from the 50's until his death in 1995. He has published MANY novels, ranging from thin cheezy pulp novels to highly regarded classics. Shockwave Rider is one of three novels considered to be his masterpieces. The other two are the epic Stand on Zanibar and the eco-horror classic The Sheep Look Up (8# on my favorite Horror novels list). Both of those are bizarro in their own ways, but his other most weird novel is Crucible of Time. That novel reads like a history text for a very unhuman like species. Very strange book as well.

Honorable mention of the week:

Final Blackout by L.Ron Hubbard

David Agranoff is the author of two published novels the Wuxia Pan style horror fantasy crossover "Hunting The Moon Tribe," and the satire "The Vegan Revolution With Zombies. He is also the author of the Wonderland award short story collection "Screams From a Dying World." His next novel Boot Boys of the Wolf-Reich is due to be released soon by Deadite press.

Book Review: Star Wars -The Last Jedi

Star Wars: The Last Jedi by Michael Reeves and Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff

Del Rey 460 pages Paperback

Last year I had a bit of a Star Wars binge where I read one every other book that I was reading for a few months. Since SW was such a huge part of my childhood it was nice familiar feeling. I could hear the sound effects, the music. I think that is why SW books are popular in prison and the military for people away from home.

One of my favorite SW novels came as a total surprise. That was Reeves first SW novel Darth Maul Shadow Hunter. When I saw it on the shelf I wasn’t going to read it, but a friend said it was surprisingly good. Not only was it good, I thought it was a fantastic SW that while titled after The villain Darth Maul was much more than that. Yes Darth Maul is a major force, but the novel is more of noir tale of the universe’s capital city than anything. The novel introduces several new characters which were the highlight of that novel, but the action and pacing were also very well done. I became a Reeves fan and mostly he has proven me correct that he belongs along side Matthew Stover, and James L…. as the best authors working in the expanded universe. This is the third novel that he has teamed up with Fantasy writer Maya Kaathryn Bohnoff. It’s a good partnership, the novels maintain the pace and action.

This novel follows the adventures of Jax Pavin whose droid I-five was introduced back in the Darth Maul along with Jax’s father. These are my two favorite EU characters and it was the main reason I wanted to read this novel. Taking place during the dark days of the rebellion and involves the after math of a terrible defeat for the rebels. Darth Vader has captured one of Pavin’s best friends and a leader in the rebellion. Jax decides he has to rescue his friend or risk a planned assassination on the Emperor.

I am a sucker for anything Jedi and Sith related and this story takes a neat angle on force spirituality. Pavan has to explore his feelings believing he is the last jedi, survivor of Order 66. He has to confront his feelings toward Darth Vader(being one of the few who knows the truth).

You have to be a star wars nerd, to read an expanded universe novel. This book is a great one but it builds off of Darth Maul Shadow Hunter and the Coruscant Nights Trilogy. So start there if you are a fan of Jedis.

Book Review: Cold City by F.Paul Wilson

Cold City By F.Paul Wilson

Repairman Jack early years book one Tor hardcover 365 pages

Last year I read all the novels in the secret history of world saga by F.Paul Wilson, That includes three different novel series and with this book you can include a trilogy that makes four, count them four different series that weave into a story that starts in Wilson's classic novel “The Keep,” and concludes in his end of the world novel “Nightworld.” If you want to read the story and I advocate fans of horror and weird crime you do just that you'll have to commit to at least two of the series including the six books of the Adversary cycle series and the fifteen novels of Repairman Jack. I know it is a lot but I was quickly hooked and they read quick thanks to Wilson's lean prose and excellent world class plotting.

You have to be a master of plotting to weave one story through this. Let me break it down.

3 Young Jack YA novels

3 Repairman Jack early years novels (two and three forthcoming)

6 Adversary cycle novels (but Wilson's WW II epic black wind connects strongly to the saga as well)

15 Repairman Jack novels (but keep in mind Adversary cycle #6 and RMJ #15 are the same novel.)

OK follow that because Wilson perfectly weaves the plot together over 26 novels (or at least 24 already released) Fans already know how it ends but the early years when Jack left his life and went off the grid in NYC becoming a extra legal problem solver were the one gap in his story. After huge fan demand (these books are quiet bestsellers) Wilson agreed to tell that story over three books.

This is clearly a Repairman Jack novel, fans of the series will be happy. It is a classic Jack story which explains how he became friends with a gun dealing lonely Jewish man. A Latino lower east side bar owner and found a robin Hood-ish life of crime. The only challenge for Wilson and this novel is that as a prequel the novel could not explore the supernatural and otherness story line as deeply as the classic novels.

Wilson has knack for surprises that often include misdirection in the plot. I was surprised how much this novel connects to the saga much in the way the young jack novels do. While it is not even close to my favorite Jack novels (Harbingers, Legacies and The Haunted Air are my favorites) but I enjoyed this novel.

It is background on a favorite character. I wouldn't suggest starting here, but some day down the line of your Jack reading come back to this one. Trust me you'll miss Jack at some point.