|
Post by dem bones on Apr 7, 2008 7:05:54 GMT
John Tigges - Vessel (Leisure, 1988) Fresno Bee "Horror at its chilling best ... makes Count Dracula look like a schoolboy!" Used to find a load of these Leisure Book titles and similar going in the local newsagent's bargain bin about ten years ago and they were always good for a cheap thrill. Centuries after her incarceration in Castle Cjesthe, Elizabeth Bathory (now Elizabeth Browne Nargella) is at large again, this time in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Together with her evil master Thorko, a black magician with plans for world domination, the sadistic Szentes (now Aleigha) and handmaiden Ilona Joo (Ida), she kidnaps several young women and feeds them up until they are ready to be hung up and drained of their blood. The girls are kept naked in the dark, secured by a leather band around their waists, and exposed to sleeping gas whenever their captors have cause to enter the cell, leave food, hose them down and add to or reduce their number. Two teen hitch-hikers, Rhonda Gordon and Judy Merton, picked up in a huge black limo by Edward, Bathory's heroin-addicted chauffeur, are the latest to be abducted and it is they - and dogged detectives Jerry and Gus - who eventually bring the vampire's empire down. In a spectacular finale, Elizabeth and Thorko flee from their mansion, only for their limo to collide with an electricity pylon. Without their resurrection man, Aleigha and Ida crumple to dust and the enchanted mansion disappears(!). Enjoyable if unremarkable, Tigges at least throws in some decent horror sequences: the black magic-enabled returns from the grave of Szentes and Ilona - the one decapitated, the other burnt at the stake - are well handled, and the brutal death of Janet Mulrooney, bitten to death by Szentes/ Aleigha in a fit of sexual jealousy, remains unpleasantly in the memory. I seem to remember his Book Of The Dead was another fun read.
|
|
|
Post by dem bones on Jan 23, 2013 8:24:42 GMT
John Tigges - Garden Of The Incubus (Star, 1982/ originally Leisure, 1982) Blurb: When innocent young Roberta entered the convent at St. Paul's, she seemed content with her new life of chastity and devotion - until a mysterious voice called out to her.
"YOU BELONG TO THE MASTER AND NO ONE ELSE!"
From that moment of satanic confrontation she was powerless to resist the voice which controlled her every action, until she was ultimately filled with an unquenchable lust for a demon from the depths of hell.John Tigges, a generous 319 pages of Creepy Nun, and it's taken me an entire month to get around to it? I have so got to get a grip. We first meet Roberta 'Bobbe' Moore in 1936, returning from her first day at Catholic kindergarten in Springfield. Sister Evangeline is so kind that Bobbe only agrees to go home to mum after the nun has promised she can come back tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after that! As the six year old dawdles on her way, she's intercepted at his front gate by creepy Mr. Huntley. Up until now Bobbe's thought of him as a nasty old man, but here is is inviting her inside for candy! What a lovely day this has been! Edgar Huntley, approaching sixty, is aching to lose his virginity, but his looks and personalty are such that even Springfield's two prostitutes run a mile. Well, they're a little mature for his tastes anyhow. Now that his domineering mother is dead, there's nobody to be scared of, he can do what he wants, and he wants to do Bobbe. Luckily for her, he is so inept at unbuckling his belt that she's out the door like a shot before he can satisfy his sinister urge. Huntly is absolutely furious. He calls upon Satan to take her, and by the looks of the blurb, Satan doesn't need asking twice. Cut to 1951. Bobbe is 21, beautiful, going steady with High School sweetheart Jay Livingston. Jay, shortly to take over management of Pa's lumber yard, whips out a diamond ring and requests her hand in marriage. Bobbe shocks them both by refusing. As of tomorrow, she announces, she is entering a convent. Midnight, a stray devil dog who only Bobbe can approach, slobbers all over her hand at the news. Jay departs in high dudgeon. How could she spring this after leading him on all these years? If Jay but knew, it's as much a mystery to Bobbe who awakes next morning horrified at what she's said. Midnight lumbers through the woods, satisfied at a job well done. Only another 300 pages that will seem like ten to go.
|
|
|
Post by dem bones on Jan 24, 2013 12:23:09 GMT
"The only thing you will be allowed to do is what you are commanded. You will be normal when you're with people and act the holy slut necessary to be accepted. You belong to The Master and no-one else."
It's starting to take shape. As suspected, it's the incubus who is manipulating Bobbe's every step, every word, so she has no difficulty in convincing the parish priest of her sincerity. Father Dolan refers the potential candidate for sainthood to scary Sister Basil, Mother Superior of St. Pauls. When Bobbe rattles off a Incubus-dictated history of the order, Sister Basil melts, fast-tracks her for the novitiate while the going is good. Parents Dan and Clare gradually overcome their shock to accept their daughter's decision, Clare even donating her mother's wedding dress for Bobbe to wear at her marriage to Christ. On the eve of her departure for Cedar Falls, Bobbe trowels on the war paint, slips into tight blouse, skirt and heels, and surrenders her virginity to the first man she meets, namely Howie, a curmudgeonly fat trucker minding his own business in the local greasy spoon.
All this before she's set foot inside the convent! Tigges has hit his stride early with Garden Of The Incubus.
|
|
|
Post by dem bones on Jan 26, 2013 18:48:47 GMT
It transpires that Bobbe remembers nothing of her raunchy romp with Howie at the Wayfarers Inn and approaches the most important day of her young life with joy and a determination to be as pious a Sister of the Bearer of the Divine Word as any. A nasty moment at Communion when she almost gags on the Sacred Host, but otherwise she breezes through her last day of freedom until a tearful reunion with Jay. A minute in his presence and she wonder's what she's playing at, why this sudden impulse to take the veil? The Demon within turns up the foul language to eleven, reminds her that she is the property of the master, placates her with a flashback to Howie's throbbing member and she's Ok after that. Jay, on the other hand, is distraught, his every dream shattered. He'll never get over Bobbe, he'll never look at another woman, unless its Crystal, who, learning he's back on the market, seizes the moment. They leave Bobbe's farewell party hand in hand and up for a grope fest.
Mr. Tigges has everything chugging along just so. Had Hamlyn picked up on his novels for their 'nasty' range it's unlikely the readers would have complained.
|
|
|
Post by dem bones on Jan 29, 2013 8:35:02 GMT
Big noises at the Cedar Falls convent include Sister Job, Mother Superior, Sister Damien, hard but fair Mistress of Novices, and Sister Felicia, a senior novice who presides over a haircut lottery. The newly shorn Bobbe is befriended by fellow young Postulant, Connie Denver, a bubbly redhead from a farming family, whose father Carl was gored to death by a frenzied bull when she was three. Bobbe is settling in well, but the demon within is already making mischief. An obscenity bellowed during Sister Madonna's (!!) African Studies class to the effect that the "sows" are in need of sexual relief is blamed on a "prowler" nobody has actually seen, but the incident at the Thanksgiving supper isn't so easily swept under the carpet. As the convent give thanks for what they are about to receive, the hall is filled with a ghastly stench. In place of their, surprisingly sumptuous, meal, the table is laden with plates of steaming human excrement. End of Book One.
Book Two.
In the immediate aftermath of dumpgate, a desperately upset Str. Job demands audience with the Bishop on a matter of urgency. His excellency gives her a sympathetic hearing, agrees that the unidentified prowler is the most likely culprit, and advises she get onto the police to arrange 24 hour surveillance. Arriving back at the convent and - ..... sniff ... sniff .... Ye gads, but those drains are kicking up something scandalous tonight! - the Mother Superior is greeted with the news that the kitchen tap is jammed full on and pissing out, well, piss. An emergency plumber is called, but by the time he arrives, the problem has righted itself, making the Nuns look very silly.
Meanwhile, having assumed the body of a dashingly handsome gent in a white suit for the occasion, Bobbe's demon waylays her in the garden and finally introduces himself as Dra-Woh. Within moments he's impregnated her with the Devil's baby and branded her skin with a red blemish in the likeness of a pigs hoof. Bobbe recalls nothing of the encounter, though she's gets cross when Connie notices the "birthmark" she didn't have yesterday.
Screams in the night from Bobbe's cell. Sister Damien bursts in to find the girl frantically masturbating as she vomits thick, stinking yellow slime by the gallon. The Doctor - you have to wonder if his heart is really in the job - diagnoses flu, and Mother Job is prepared to let it go at that. How could he be expected to guess at the appalling truth behind what is happening to the convent when she daren't believe it herself?
|
|
|
Post by dem bones on Sept 7, 2013 10:05:34 GMT
"How many more unusual incidents could she manage? The intruder who shouted obscenities in the hall. The awful experience of Thanksgiving Day. The septic-tank backing up or whatever it was that had happened. Now, Roberta's strange illness and almost miraculous recovery. What did it all mean?"
It's been some time since we looked in at the convent, so Mother Job's timely recap on p. 152 comes as divine intervention. The Mother Superior consults an old favourite slimline pamphlet from the library. Begone Satan (Anon, privately published, n.d.), documents a case od demonic possession in Iowa and, in the circumstances, makes for especially disturbing reading as the parallels with Bobbe's frothing and slime-spewing performance of the previous night are all too clear. Bishop King, a wise head on young shoulders, hears out her concerns and suggests a Capuchin Pries, experienced exorcist Father Balthasar Becker, be temporarily installed as chaplain in place of Father Grant to keep an eye on things.
Roberta has received a letter from Mom. Jay, her ex, has somehow recovered from the mortal blow of losing her in world record time - he's married that baggage Crystal Brauerman! So much for all his "There'll never be another girl for me, Bobbe" protestations. Well, she has her demon lover now (though she's seldom conscious of the fact), but it still hurts!
Father Grant's farewell mass, Bobbe vomits the host and suffers convulsions at the Communion rail on mention of his successor's name.
Father Backer arrives with the valise containing all his worldly possessions (a change of clothes) and, no question, this red-bearded giant of a man is one formidable adversary of Satan. Mother Job has him shown to his room - spartan, just the way he likes it - and already it has begun. The crucifix above the bed has been torn down and twisted into a knot.
Most novels, you leave them alone for too long and that's it, you have to start over, but with Incubus, just picked up where i left off - halfway - and am immediately back in the swing. Don't know how come i forgot it existed!
|
|
|
Post by dem bones on Sept 13, 2013 16:14:14 GMT
"Where the vomit had poured from Bobbe's mouth, hundreds of hairy maggots now crawled. Making their way down the full length of the postulant's body, they wiggled over the hands of the attending nuns. Still, the women did not budge. The girl's body convulsed powerfully, before human excrement began gushing from her eyes, ears and nose. Gagging at the awful stench now mingling with the other putrid odors, the nuns strained until Sister Gregory ran to the door weeping and retching. Mother Job quickly took the fleeing nun's place."
If you think that's outrageous, try the ADDENDUM ....
Drama in the early hours of Christmas morning. Bobbe collapses after sneaking into best pal Connie's cell and attempting to molest her! Dr. Geller pronounces her dead! But not sooner has he left the convent, to the astonishment of all, the 'corpse' sits up, breaks into hideous cackle, runs laughing to the belfry. A Yuletide miracle! Mother Job and Father Becker do not share in the initial joy and wonderment. Becker has seen enough to convince him that the poor girl is most certainly demoniacally possessed and must be exorcised immediately. From previous experience - he has ousted fifteen of Lucifer's minions - the frail girl will fight, scratch and struggle all the way, so he has the Mother Superior select her four heftiest Nuns to assist in the solemn rite. All is set for the showdown pending the Bishop's official sanction - which is unforthcoming! He needs more evidence than the multitude of desecrations, decapitated statues, the number two special for Thanksgiving brunch and a levitating postulant! In exasperation, Father Becker takes a bus to Springfield to interview Bobby's parents, see if they can shed any light on Roberta's strange behaviour, but other than her overnight decision to join a Convent, she was always such a normal girl. On return to St. Paul's he celebrates Mass. Bobbe steps up to receive the sacred host - and pulls the most extraordinary face, like she is going to go into slime-spewing mode again. Afterwards, he takes her to one side: what happened at the Altar rail to make her react so? "That's none of your f**king business, sexless man!" snarls the Devil within. Now he has lured Dra-Woh into the open, Becker has no option but to press on with the interrogation and establish what he's up against.
Back on the telephone to Bishop King who is at last satisfied that Bobbe Moore is indeed infested by a succubus and not merely mentally ill. But the delay has enabled Dra-Woh to transport Bobbe to the bridal suite of just wed Jay and Crystal via the Astral plane. Walking through the bedroom wall, she interrupts their lovemaking by kicking Crystal where it hurts and attempting to rape her ex ... until the strong arms of the nuns drag her kicking and shrieking back into her own body in readiness for Father Becker's ministrations. Can he deliver her from the clutches of her infernal lover? And what will happen should Lucifer take a personal interest in the affair?
Had a fun time with Vessel, Book Of The Dead not so much, but Garden Of The Incubus may well be John Tigges' pulp horror masterpiece, not least for a cast of sympathetic characters, flawed but heroic in the face of overwhelming evil. The foul-mouthed incubus is likewise impressive, a classic case of the sing-when-you're- winning merchant, alternately crowing his superiority over the "nun-f**ker"or whining for mercy, depending on how he's faring in the conflict. And, for once, an ending you may not see coming.
|
|
|
Post by andydecker on Jul 27, 2023 9:18:35 GMT
I started Vessel. Tried to get a copy becuase of the great cover, but it has become ridiculous expensive. Still there are means to read it.
Our esteemed vaultkeeper is 100% right on this. Enjoyable if unremarkable. It is one of those pulpish plots where it is advisable not to think too hard about the details or the background - or think at all -, but it is a lot of fun and remarkable unrestrained in its set pieces. Guess a re-read of Garden of the Incubus is in the cards.
|
|
|
Post by dem bones on Jul 27, 2023 16:09:10 GMT
I started Vessel. Tried to get a copy becuase of the great cover, but it has become ridiculous expensive. Still there are means to read it. Our esteemed vaultkeeper is 100% right on this. Enjoyable if unremarkable. It is one of those pulpish plots where it is advisable not to think too hard about the details or the background - or think at all -, but it is a lot of fun and remarkable unrestrained in its set pieces. Guess a re-read of Garden of the Incubus is in the cards.
It was Tigges, and Vessel in particular, got me hooked on Leisure Books for a time. He was also 'William Essex' of The Pack infamy, remarkably prolific pre-millennium, still might be (lost sight of him post-nineties). I've a book of short stories he co-authored, too; Kevin Browne's Nightales ("Gave me the heebie jeebies! Kevin Browne and John Tigges are excellent storytellers in the tradition of Lovecraft, Serling and Bradbury ..." - Gordon F Sander, author of Serling: The Rise and Twilight). It is abject! ... Having said that, I just skimmed through my comments, and seem to have enjoyed it. Maybe I'm getting it confused with some other rubbish.
|
|