Merry Barrett, our narrator, recounts her experiences as a child when her sister Marjorie becomes the subject of an exorcism and a reality television Merry Barrett, our narrator, recounts her experiences as a child when her sister Marjorie becomes the subject of an exorcism and a reality television show. The narrative alternates between Merry’s memories as an eight-year-old, present-day Merry, and blog entries that focus on the reality show (The Possession) featured on a pop culture website. It’s an acute examination of mental health, religion, celebrity, sexuality…and…well…a hell of a lot of things.
The skill that Tremblay displays mashing all these ideas into a rather short book is impressive. The Barrett family are all fleshed out well. You feel the bonds Marjorie and Merry have with their mother. The growing gulf between father and daughters is a palpable. The skeeviness of Father Wanderly (who suggests the exorcism) adds an uncomfortable layer to the proceedings. The way the television production team ambivalently sexualizes a mentally-ill fourteen-year-old in the interests of ratings will make your stomach turn.
Invariably, as you read A Head Full of Ghosts, your mind will turn to the late, great William Peter Blatty’s seminal The Exorcist. Both books concerns themselves with similar ideas and tread the same thematic grounds. And Tremblay doesn’t shy away from any comparisons, calling out Blatty’s classic by name on numerous occasions. Both mine bundles of psychological horror around the debasement of a young girl. Tremblay, however, plays coy with Marjorie’s possession. Is she actually possessed by a demon? How much can we rely on the memories of a little girl?
Some people like to differentiate the category of horror and thriller based on whether the book has a supernatural element. Is A Head Full of Ghosts horror? Or is it a thriller?
I urge you to read it. Make your own decision. You’ll have a devil of a time figuring it out....more
Dave Creek is a familiar name to fans of Analog Fact and Fiction Magazine. After reading The Human Equations, I can see why.
Most of the stories in thiDave Creek is a familiar name to fans of Analog Fact and Fiction Magazine. After reading The Human Equations, I can see why.
Most of the stories in this collection follow the tried-and-true mold of Analog stories: a dire situation is presented, a plan is made to correct the situation, problems arise, solutions are found. For someone who likes to read a stream of dark fiction, I enjoyed the more optimistic side of science fiction that Dave offers.
The best two stories, "Kutraya's Skies" and the "The Day That Reveals" offer a latticework of plot threads: morality, religion, culture, and relationships. A couple of the stories didn't gel for me, but then, I'm a rather picky reader. Legendary editor Stanley Schmidt and Analog readers found something in them, so I think it's a matter of taste.
Good hard science fiction is in short supply these days. I recommend this book as a fast and entertaining read for the science fiction fan. ...more
The Weight of Chains (Sinister Grin Press) is an eye-opening debut novel from Lesley Conner.
Set in 15th century France, this historical-horror novel The Weight of Chains (Sinister Grin Press) is an eye-opening debut novel from Lesley Conner.
Set in 15th century France, this historical-horror novel contains two fast-pace plot threads that combine for a satisfying and horrific conclusion. We’re introduced to Jeanetta, a hardworking eleven-year-old girl who has moved to the village of Machecoul with her family. In true peasant fashion, they’re poor and the family is always on the brink of starvation. To ease the burden on her family, Jeanetta is promised to a kindly, widowed smallpox survivor.
Gilles de Rais, the lord of Machecoul, is on a constant search for young boys… preferably fair-haired and no more than eight years old. The guy is a nasty piece of work who’s heinous crimes are documented facts. Unfortunately, de Rais is surrounded by a group of enablers, in particular, his guard, the sadistic Poitou.
As the novel progresses, Gilles de Rais’s appetites become more demanding. He enlists the help of a wizard named Prelati to summon the demon Barron with the hopes of trading blood for gold. Poitou’s search for victims becomes more aggressive as more and more boys are sent off to be a court Page in Paris by their master. It is when Poitou brings Jeanetta and her eight-year-old brother to Gilles de Rais’s castle that our two plots collide and we’re given a page-turning and somewhat unexpected conclusion.
The author has a knack for writing despicable characters: Gilles de Rais, Poitou, and Prelati all felt three dimensional and are memorable. Our young heroine, Jeanetta, comes across as a realistic eleven-year-old in an old soul’s body.
Be warned, there are buckets of gore and plenty of chilling scenes that will set off a whole set of trigger warnings. If you check out the Wikipedia page I linked earlier, you’ll understand why.
Parents with young children might wish to stay away from this one. I have a fair-haired eight-year-old son (Gilles de Rais’s favorite type) and the book made me uncomfortable at times for obvious reasons.
If you’re looking for a great Halloween read, then The Weight of Chains is worthy of your attention.
One last though: the final chapter is one of the best I’ve read in a horror novel....more
The Vault is Jettie Necole's debut novel, and as far as first novels go, this one is pretty solid.
Olivia is a high school senior returning home from aThe Vault is Jettie Necole's debut novel, and as far as first novels go, this one is pretty solid.
Olivia is a high school senior returning home from a visit to a west coast college when she meets a handsome blue eyed man at LAX. They strike up a rapport, and form what both assume to be a brief airport friendship.
Then the end of the world happens.
The author does a nice job expressing the naivety of youth, as Olivia is both frustratingly immature (but hey, she's 17 and stuck in an underground bunker) and charming. Necole also imbues her two male leads with fully-formed and believable characterization. Gavin is a hard military man having difficultly assessing his feelings for his young charge. Daniel is a clever engineer who finds it difficult to compete with the masculine Gavin. The three form an interesting love triangle.
For readers who enjoy coming-of-age romance, this one should sate your appetite....more
Then you'll enjoy INK, the debut novel by talented author Damien Walters Grintalis.
Like so many classiYou like monsters?
You like cringe-worthy horror?
Then you'll enjoy INK, the debut novel by talented author Damien Walters Grintalis.
Like so many classic Leisure books of old, INK takes a simple, straightforward plot and runs full speed into gore, death, and monsters. The protagonist, on the rebound from a bad marriage, runs into a shady tattoo artist named Sailor. With a bit of liquid courage and rebellion flowing through his blood, our newly-divorced protag has Sailor ink a beautiful rendition of a powerful griffin.
Between the title of the book and the synopsis on the back, you *know* what happens next. And it ain't pretty.
Grintalis displays a deft touch building tension throughout. This strength plays to her favor in a manic and bloody climax involving the protagonist, his girlfriend, a griffin, and Sailor. The author also does some nice character building, forming realistic familial and romantic relationships.
The book occasionally suffers problems typical of first novels. Often, I found myself thinking "Hm, didn't I *just* read this observation five pages earlier?" The narrative could have used some polish, but the book moves along at such a brisk pace, it's not problematic to the story.
Until INK, I had known Damien Walters Grintalis solely as an author of short fiction (something she is gifted at writing, do search for her works if you have the time). With INK, it is evident that the author will bloom into an excellent novelist as well. I look forward to her next book....more
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