"THE TOTEM" by David Morrell

In the introduction to "The Totem," David Morrell talks about how when the novel was originally published in 1979, the publisher made him change the manuscript considerably before it was released. This version (seen at left), published in 1995, is the complete, original version of Morrell's original manuscript.

The story takes place in the Wyoming ranching town of Potter's Field. The sheriff of the town, Slaughter, is a transplant from Detroit. An alcoholic reporter, Dunlap, arrives in town to do a 'then and now' piece on events surrounding a hippie commune that happened decades earlier... and then things start to get "hairy". The discovery of mutilated cattle and other, stranger, things lead Slaughter and Dunlap on a chase to find out exactly what's residing in the mountains surrounding the normally peaceful valley.

I really enjoy Morrell's style of writing; there's a minimalist quality to it that moves the story along very quickly, and yet injects the maximum amount of plot into the fewest words. I was a bit stunned right at the beginning of the story, when we're introduced to a veterinarian, a rancher, and his son, but no names are mentioned through the first twenty-five odd pages of the book. What was more odd about it, was that I actually 'cared' about what was happening to these characters, despite a lack of names. This unique technique - if that's what you want to call it - was refreshing to read.

In addition to a first rate horror-thriller story, Morrell's characters are great, too. Sheriff Slaughter is a character that develops slowly over the course of the book. Just when you think you've got a comfortable 'read' on him, new information surfaces to make you see him as bit differently. Dunlap, the reporter, was a lot of fun to read as well. As a fish out of water in more ways than one, the way he personally 'views' what's going on contrasts Slaughter's views perfectly.

Morrell is a legendary writer, a moniker that's well-deserved. If you haven't checked him out, make a point of it. I highly recommend "The Totem."

Rated: 4.5 out of 5

"TRANSFORMERS" directed by Michael Bay

Hee-hee...

I was born in 1973. Ergo, by the early eighties I was neck deep into Star Wars, He-Man, GI-Joe, and the Transformers. Maybe that explains some of my enthusiasm...

On Monday night I finally got to go see the "Transformers" movie, and I'm sure it won't be long before I go see it again. It was one gigantic, metal-crunching, summer popcorn fun fest. Decent acting and ridiculously fantastic special effects, this one was almost an A+. The only things that drew it down a bit were a few clunkers in the humor department and the lack of interaction between the Decepticons. A character like Starscream should have had a LOT more to say, but it was fun when Megatron briefly reprimanded him, ("You've failed me yet again, Starscream!"). However, I'm sure there'll be much more interaction in the ensuing, inevitable sequels. An extreme high point in the film: Peter Cullen reprises his role as Optimus Prime. I was so stoked over this. I don't think any other voice for Prime would have worked. Megatron's voice is different, but it's maniacal enough that it doesn't detract from the experience.

(It cracks me up that anyone who didn't grow up with the cartoons/toys won't have the slightest clue what the majority of the above paragraph meant... sucks for you! Hee!)
A powerhouse of a movie. Highly, highly recommended.

Rated 4.5 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in "The Daily Cave" on July 9th, 2007)

"WEED SPECIES" by Jack Ketchum

When I recently asked Ketchum to describe this novella to me, he said, "There's very few people in this one that you'd want to go to lunch with."

He was right.

I'm not a huge fan of realistic horror; for me, there usually has to be some element of the supernatural for me to enjoy it. Weed Species is real horror, and is actually based on events that happened in Canada. However, it's short enough, and well written enough, that it didn't turn me off. The bulk of the book centers around a man and his girlfriend that kidnap, rape, and occasionally murder girls. What's interesting about the book, and what sets it apart, is the underlying comment on the passiveness the main characters have about what they're doing. When someone becomes so detached from what others are feeling, or will feel, that's really the definition of real horror.

Definitely not for the faint of heart, Weed Species is a concise, disturbing novella that will curl your toes.

For more information on Jack and his books, check out his website: http://www.jackketchum.net/

Rated 4.5 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in "The Daily Cave" on March 11th, 2007)

"WOLF'S TRAP" by W.D. Gagliani

Rarely is the werewolf thing done well. I was thinking about why and I guess what it comes down to is the transformation between man and wolf is so out there that it's difficult to maintain the thin bridge of suspension of disbelief while posing the supposition. In other words, it's hella farfetched in most people's minds.

I, myself, have only written one werewolf story - to the best of my recollection - and I found myself doubting it even as I was writing it. There's something so... Incredible Hulk-ish about the werewolf phenomenon that it's difficult to keep it authentically scary.

All right, all that said, the first book I've read in '07 is W.D. Gagliani's Wolf's Trap.

The basic synopsis is that Nick Lupo, a Milwaukee homicide detective, is also a werewolf. Through the story, Gagliani gives us the history of Nick, as well as the history of serial killer stalking Wisconsin's largest city. It turns out that the serial killer "knows" Nick, and is taunting him with his targeted murders.

The great thing about this book is that it's not just about werewolves. Gagliani fills the book with enough detective and psychological realism to keep you grounded in the real world - so that when the more fantastical stuff takes off, it seems all the more real.

I love how Gagliani understands his topic. The Incredible Hulk metaphor is actually used in the book when Lupo is desperately trying to get his clothes off before one of his transformations, so as not to look like the Hulk standing in a pair of shredded pants.

A great detective story that's slowly unveiled, layer after layer after layer, I highly recommend Wolf's Trap as a superb Horror Thriller that was a ton of fun.

To check out more about Gagliani and his work, take a look at his site: http://www.williamdgagliani.com/

Rated 4.5 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in "The Daily Cave" on January 8th, 2007)

"SLAYER: STIGMATA" by Karen Koehler

"Stigmata" is the third book of Karen Koehler's unique Slayer series.


Book one of the series, Slayer, introduced us to the dhampire (half human half vampire) Alek, and brought us to a pinnacle moment in his life when he questioned everything he'd been taught to believe.


Book two of the series, Slayer: Black Miracles, was actually two novellas in a single volume. Both of them allowed us to ride along with Alek in his present condition as the Rogue, a Slayer without a Coven, a dhampir hunted by all. The second book of the series was less brooding than the first, concentrating highly on Alek's ability and knowhow when it came to what he did best: eliminating vampires and vampire-like threats. The tone of both stories in Black Miracles was - in my opinion - much more fun than the first book. Black Miracles was more about Alek's procedure as a Slayer, and less about his inner conflict.


Stigmata covers the gambit. Let me first say that this is a monstrous book; it comes in around 560 pages, but that's deceiving. So much of the book is written as a reflection, with little dialogue, that its got to be around 250,000 words - but before you get discouraged, let me tell you that it's well worth it. What to compare it to? For lack of a better comparison, Stigmata is to the Slayer series is what Wizard and Glass was to King's Dark Tower series; it's a reflection of things past. But whereas King keeps to the past in book four of his epic, Koehler ties in the past with a major event in the present. We look through "someone's" eyes (I'm not going to tell you who, because that would spoil the surprise) into the past, into the very creation of the Coven System at the Vatican. We see the evolution of the Coven over time, we see how it came to the new world, and why. Koehler's descriptions of these places and times are perfect. I found myself unflinchingly believing every word I read, and had no doubt of its authenticity. Interspersed with these reflections, we read about Alek and the latest (and possibly greatest) challenge placed in his path in the form of a young girl name Damia. As usual with Alek, things quickly turn violent and fast paced. In this way, Koehler moves us back and forth between a rich, engaging look at the origins of the coven, and a slice-em-up storyline that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The novel culminates with a spine tingling narrative that involves Alek venturing into the heart of the lion's den... and doesn't stop there.


Koehler expands upon what is possible in her Slayer universe without ever breaking the suspension of belief she's strung out of your mind in the previous two books. I read the last seventy or so pages of this book in a single sitting, as I couldn't wait to see what would unfold next. Karen Koehler's Slayer: Stigmata is the masterpiece of the Slayer series to date, (rumor has it that we are supposed to see Slayer: Armageddon, eventually, so we'll see if she can top herself). I've rarely read a more engaging and entertainaing book, and I can't give it a high enough recommendation, though I recommend reading the previous two Slayer books first, to get the full effect. Slayer: Stigmata is published by Black Death Books.


Rated 4.5 out of 5


(Originally reviewed in "The Daily Cave" on June 19th, 2006)