tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28085999.post788253246262409353..comments2024-03-26T05:04:01.131-06:00Comments on Gravetapping: Halloween ReadingBen Bouldenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16024782701164448300noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28085999.post-31810301777601146802009-10-25T06:20:41.460-06:002009-10-25T06:20:41.460-06:00So you did. Just got back from reading it, and agr...So you did. Just got back from reading it, and agree with everything you wrote.<br /><br />Looking forward to Mr. Kilborn's future novels.Tossernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28085999.post-55237916642455060372009-10-24T22:58:18.382-06:002009-10-24T22:58:18.382-06:00Craig. That is an apt comparison between Bradbury ...Craig. That is an apt comparison between Bradbury and Sarrantonio's Orangfield novels. I've read most of the Orangefield stories and while I enjoyed the heck out of them, I never made the connection. But now that you have, I completely agree.<br /><br />And DARK HARVEST has been on my "wanna-get" list for too long. I'll check out your review.<br /><br />Tosser. I really liked AFRAID. It reminded me something of 1990s Dean Koontz--particularly the paranoia--and it was a fast heady ride. I wish there were more novels of that type being released. <br /><br />Oh, and I actually did write a review for AFRAID earlier this year. You can read it here: http://gravetapping.blogspot.com/2009/06/afraid-by-jack-kilborn.html<br /><br />BenBen Bouldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16024782701164448300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28085999.post-51224386256314114082009-10-24T19:51:38.355-06:002009-10-24T19:51:38.355-06:00If you ever get the urge to review Kilborn's A...If you ever get the urge to review Kilborn's AFRAID, please don't fight it. I thought it was a fast, fun, and very entertaining novel. Oddly, for a book with so much carnage, it almost had a sweet air to it. Hope more people grab a copy.<br /><br />Ah, Halloween...Tossernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28085999.post-65693228499041297762009-10-24T19:05:41.261-06:002009-10-24T19:05:41.261-06:00All great choices, especially Stir of Echoes, whic...All great choices, especially Stir of Echoes, which I think is highly underrated, even among Matheson fans.<br /><br />I really enjoy Al Sarrantonio's Orangefield novels. He offers a very Ray Bradburyesque feel to Halloween horror.<br /><br />Also, if you haven't read it, Norman Partridge's Dark Harvest is by far one of the best Halloween stories. I'll have a review up on Monday.Craig Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13340904520617472135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28085999.post-32876502683968154732009-10-23T10:16:51.725-06:002009-10-23T10:16:51.725-06:00MP. I agree that Heinlein's later work was dee...MP. I agree that Heinlein's later work was deeply flawed. His early stuff was terrific. STARSHIP TROOPERS, which contained a massive dose of libertarian ideas (dare I say propaganda?) was well enough written that it didn't bother me a bit. Although the later, larger novels, weren't nearly as fortunate.<br /><br />As for Peter Straub, I'm embarrassed to admit that I haven't read any of his work. I have both KOKO and GHOST STORY in a box. Maybe I'll get GHOST STORY out and read it before the month is over.<br /><br />BenBen Bouldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16024782701164448300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28085999.post-63266375412136281622009-10-23T10:11:21.379-06:002009-10-23T10:11:21.379-06:00Julie. I agree. The best part of Halloween is the ...Julie. I agree. The best part of Halloween is the scary films and novels. I also enjoyed DRACULA when I read it several years ago. An interesting note: There is a new Dracula novel titled DRACULA THE UN-DEAD by a great-great nephew (or something) of Bram Stoker. It is written in the letter-journal format of the original. It sounds interesting.<br /><br />BenBen Bouldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16024782701164448300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28085999.post-22909469713979811352009-10-23T09:51:44.154-06:002009-10-23T09:51:44.154-06:00I used to love Koontz, but think he peaked in the ...I used to love Koontz, but think he peaked in the late 70s and early 80s. After that he seemed to get too caught up in pushing his Libertarian philosophy at the expense of storytelling, and I say this as someone who mostly agrees with him. Robert Heinlein did the same thing in his later novels, and the books really suffered for it. Clegg can be really good, but he's wildly uneven. Your most startling omission is Peter Straub, who has been King's only serious competition over the years. His "Ghost Story" has been my favorite horror novel since I read it nearly 30 years ago.MPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12515927050827397245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28085999.post-78668322857781623472009-10-23T03:31:04.241-06:002009-10-23T03:31:04.241-06:00Hi. Nice review. I think I will choose something f...Hi. Nice review. I think I will choose something from these books. However, I've already started reading something classical - Dracula from Bram Stoker. I love stories about vampires and this one is my favorite. Halloween without some good book or horror movie is not Halloween, at least for me.<br /><br />Best regards,<br />JulieRealtor from Torontohttp://juliekinnear.comnoreply@blogger.com