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Post by erebus on Mar 7, 2015 20:14:06 GMT
Just had a good read through of your blog on the Pan books. Excellent work, very enjoyable and well written and described breakdowns of each story. Superb stuff, Well Done.
As for The Market Gardeners. For me its a load of pointless twaddle.
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Post by erebus on Mar 7, 2015 19:40:54 GMT
Thank You, and also for supplying the cover scan.
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Post by erebus on Mar 7, 2015 17:01:15 GMT
A quick note to Dem. I've put this thread in the wrong forum ( must have been a bad week ) my apologies, any chance of a move to its correct home ? Thank You.
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Post by erebus on Mar 7, 2015 16:56:34 GMT
Am I the only one who felt a lot let down by Funland ? I love the writer and have all his books but Funland for me seemed like a good idea that left me redundant after I read it. That being said I didn't like SAVAGE either and that ones seems to be the most popular book he has written. Recommend AMARA Dem, certainly worth picking up.
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Post by erebus on Mar 7, 2015 16:50:37 GMT
I have twelve of Keene's books. Conqueror Worms, along with Dead Sea and Terminal are the only three I've yet to read. I have heard many a good thing of Worms though. But I became somewhat discouraged by the writers other books. After a good experience with his novels Ghoul and The Rising, two superb reads, the ones I read afterwards became gradually more tedious and bad. City of the Dead was a good sequel to The Rising however. But his writing became kind of juvenile, beginning with Castaways and Urban Gothic, two books with appalling stereotypes. And Ghost Walk and Dark Hollow, although had decent promising storylines, failed big time due to poor characterisations and dumb writing. A Gathering of Crows is virtually the Same book as Darkness at the Edge of Town, which in itself is a crude rip off of King's The Mist without the monsters. The fact,also that his main characters, people we are supposed to root for always seem to be weed and pot smoking bag heads. Sadly I do not get gratification from smoking such junk, its obviously Keene does and believes we all do hence his characters constantly smoking the stuff. He has got some talent, and his ideas are certainly unique in someways. But he needs to mature a little more, shame because he is an obvious fan of the genre.
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Post by erebus on Feb 26, 2015 13:59:18 GMT
Its been a long long time since anybody repaid a visit to number 20 judging by the date of the last post, a somewhat juvenile response to Dem's wound ( Has it healed by the way ? ) by myself A quick read through of this over the past three nights hasn't really changed my views on this one, its just a basic later on down the road Pan. Although it does contain a belter in my opinion. That being Carl Schiffman's A Fresh Smell of Paint. A superb story of an older couple moving into a detached property with a bad memory , and a history of death shrouds it. It could have turned into a basic Rosemary Timperley Ghosty yarn, but it takes an interesting twist when the poor old Hubby, who has suffered at the hands of his hospitalised wife, does a spot of wall paper stripping and uncovers a hidden cupboard door. And what awaits within. This for me is what a horror story should be about. Suitably creepy, with a downbeat ending. The earlier mentioned Rosemary Timperley abandons her trusted ghost story roots and goes for a different angle with her Hell on Both sides of the Gate. Rather a bizarre title when you consider the story, but a good effort it is. A sinister aged father returns to his daughter after a long spell incarcerated in the psycho home for killing his wife. I will not spill any details, although I liked how the story had a re occuring cycle to it. My second favourite story, however was A Country Tale. A great way to close the book. A visiting writer/reporter is in the local pub hearing the tales of the dreaded Grenvilles Copse. A place cursed with death and delirium for anyone who is brave enough to venture within. Some great yarns are told, only for the biggest twist to occur when our writer gets up to the bar to refill the old fellas pint. Great stuff this one. Nods to Don't Go Down in the Woods and Round Every Corner. Although both are two of those stories in which you know exactly the ultimate outcome even after a page or so. In Contents, by Norman Kaufman we get a tale of..... well you know what you're going to get, a bloke cut to pieces in some way or another. Interestingly though he says he is going to unstuff the villain of the piece in this . In fact he does nothing of the sort. More like de bone his arms and legs. His organs all stay within. Regardless of this its the most gruesome story in the book. I scratched my head at The Lions Cradle. So he doesn't loose his hand, he hits the switch and prevents the oil boiling, but for some reason it rises and he drowns. My two issues are, Why does he drown ? does hitting the switch cause the oil to rise instead of boiling ? And if thats the case would'nt a better pay off to the story concern a hand lopping and boiling betrayal by the captor, rather than this quick and hasty wrap up of and outcome. Felt unfulfilled after this. Alan Temperley adds yet another to the collection of Plants and green leafy thing vs humans stories to the Pan pantheon. A look through the archives reveals a great many of these type of stories. The rest of the stories are neither here nor there. The clunker of the volume being School Crossing. In summary a good collection. Two standouts for me and only one poor effort. I would though would have liked to have had Susanna's flesh peeled and then sprinkled with pepper in The Leather Ottoman. Ah well can't have it all.
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Post by erebus on Feb 26, 2015 13:30:33 GMT
Totally agree with your summary of Coffin Flies Dem. The angry mob certainly does have the Hammer vibe. Its a wonderful yarn in my opinion. Although I always wondered just how difficult it would be to get a thick long piece of glass in place of a wall down in your basement, all the hard graft, labour and even a big piece of glass for that matter. This being 1792 and all.
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Post by erebus on Feb 22, 2015 14:30:22 GMT
Because I really enjoyed them ( lots of folk didn't ) I'm watching all the Masters of Horror episodes again on my box sets, with the commentaries this time. Hell I might even go mad and do the same with its hybrid, not so good later incarnation Fear Itself, when I'm done.
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Post by erebus on Feb 22, 2015 13:16:34 GMT
Yes, you're spot on, he does not top himself as I so ignorantly stated. I blame it on reading to many books at the same time . Always great to see you read and add your views to the Volumes Dem. Wondering if your opinion of this book will change once you are through though.
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Post by erebus on Feb 19, 2015 20:21:46 GMT
Very good, Anymore in the pipeline ? But what did you think of the actual book ? Is it good, Yet to read it myself, but it is on the bounty list.
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Post by erebus on Feb 19, 2015 20:10:05 GMT
At one time this was believed to be one of the most rare of Pan's. Cannot think why as its not really a memorable volume and is a step down from the poorly judged number 18 ( Are you listening Mr Dem ? ) So what do we have ? SPECTRE. Dulcie Grey is always well written, non more so than here. Its a stylish little chiller to begin with and really gets to you, UNTIL, the eventual perpetrator. Is it really that ? Or was it in fact a mental breakdown and a figment of his disordered mind, he does see a few things prior to this. Its just a bit crazy to expect a giant one of those to come walking through the bedroom door. Anyway...... ERIC AND I. And adolescent peeping Tom, whats not to like, although this one gets more than what he bargained for. I like the little spin on the tale, as I thought it had werewolf written all over it. NEIGHBOURS. Unusual for David Case to deliver such a short story. Rather subtle in delivery, shame the nosy Mrs Jennings never made the pot. TRIP OFF THE MAP A pompous show off gets lost in the middle of nowhere in his fancy new motor car. Had all the makings of a grand slam slice em up nasty, sadly a punch in the chops to end the story just doesn't suffice. LADY ON DISPLAY. Always good value Norman Kaufman. You have to wonder what kind of clientele would be comfortable supping a pint in a pub with a rotting lass hanging from the beam behind the bar. I'd drink there . WILD BEES AND GOLDEN HONEY. The longest story in the book isn't always the best. This is not the best but horrid for different reasons. I find Priests being raped multiple times by Mexican bandits who tie you to trees and pour honey over you for the ants to devour you, always uncomfortable. Good tale though. ZELMA MY SISTER IN LAW. Just a little to out-there for my liking, but the chap can never complain he has a nagging wife can he. THE BROTHER. A poor wife suffers with a cruel jealous green eyed monster of a husband, Things get even worse when she meets Peter his brother, fresh from the loony bin after a spate of rape and murder . Little nod to the Urban Legends in the very final lines in the story too. POWERCUT. Sorry Rosemary, just stick to what you're good at, and that's the ghost stories. This becomes clumsy and weary after a good opening. GIVE A DOG A BONE. Best contender ever for the most give away story title ever . But I liked this one, Although it did retread very similar territory. THE SINISTER NURSEMAID. A snake as a bodyguard and babysitter is a novel idea, But not novel enough to be a story in a Pan book as it just doesn't work for me . I mean come on how hard could it be to run away from a bloody Cobra for Heavens sake. THE BOY WHO WAS AFRAID TO DIE. More males being raped by males in the second story by the author in this book. Young village lad is molested by a tyranical Pathan Chief officer. He then tops himself. Uncomfortable reading, but unnecessary . Am I missing something ? THE QUIET GIRL. Corpses in Graveyards are dug up and eaten by a witch reincarnated in a young girl. Now thats more like it. Contender for best story in the book. THE INQUISITOR Reading this really reminded me of Stuart Gordon's film version of Pit and the Pendulum, and The Assassin by Raymond Williams in volume 8 . Torture aplenty is always a winner in my book.
In summary a weak collection. Nothing stands out except Norman Kaufmans story, and The Quiet Girl. The rest are instantly forgettable . And COFFIN FLIES in volume 18 is far more superior than the whole of this volume. Think I'll have another go over of 20 whilst I'm on a roll.
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Post by erebus on Feb 15, 2015 2:21:10 GMT
Thats an excellent summary, I couldn't have put it better myself. You hit the nail on the head.
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Post by erebus on Feb 14, 2015 20:19:02 GMT
Yep ! Thats the one. Thank you for uploading that pic.
Ok lets continue.
Things do get better in the second half of the book. The Doc Hypnotises Father Andrew again, he spouts more bizarre dialogue in Gaelic and mentions somebody named Shookpa. Hamish Cameron is still down in the dumps, more so when he sees a dark shape skulking off into his barn. Presuming it to be vagrants stealing his eggs again he goes to comfront the intruder. A figure rises from the gloom with glowing red eyes, it seizes Hamish round the neck, throttles him and throws his form onto the spikes of a plough. The Doc has called in his old pal Professor Cunningham to help get his head round things. When they get to the monastery to see Andrew, Cunningham recognise him as being Andrew Stewart, the once famous amateur climber, who was well known in the 60s and 70s, none more so when he suddenly disappeared for a period. This is proven when a rummage in his private quarters unearths notes of Andrew and his Sherpa friend gettting lost and Andrew was taken in buy a strange breed of creatures that live in the hills who telepathically speak to humans... Are you still with me ? After Constable Roberts has deduced Cameron was murdered, he drives back down into the village, only to be run off the road when a strange hairy figure stands in front of his vehicle, in good old corny fashion it plummets down the embankment and explodes. Not before he crawls free and utters the dying words " Warn others it exists" The locals are restless, the roads are blocked and the phone lines are now down. And to make matters worse the wife of the Inn owner Kirsty McKail has spotted the creature in her back garden whilst washing up, her poor old Alsatian gets killed. Enoughs enough, a lynch mob is formed. Not Tam Clunes though, he's having none of it. Well he won't be having anything anymore after he gets dragged over a wall and throttled by the beast. By this time Brother Andrew is having more flashbacks about the creatures. We learn they are a peachful race who never venture near humans and only attack when threatened. Proof of this is of course his safe release and ultimate decision to become the monk he is now. But why is this current creature hostile ? and whats this about the creature hiding in the ruins ? Well the lynch mob head there and indeed shoot and wound the Snowbeast, the Prof, Doc , Ellen and Glover intervene and take the 7 foot 2 monster back to the lab and cage it up. Its whimpering and crying like a child evokes something else up in the hills. A parent. And in welter of broken French windows, mangled cages and overturned tables it redeems its infant. Mummy Snowbeast also makes ofF with a fainted Ellen who succumbed in the aforementioned French window assault. It all concludes in Volcanic, Earthquaking, Telepathic, Fiery Pit frolics, and in true Scooby doo style we get the reason for all this havoc.
And thats it basically. It by no means is a classic, and it shares a lot in common with Curse of Loch Ness. I did enjoy the book, its fast paced and likeable. Much better than a lot of his other novels. But Angelus will still be his best for me.
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Post by erebus on Feb 12, 2015 12:15:09 GMT
That is a superb summary of the book Bluetomb. So much in fact you've made me want to read the darn thing again.
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Post by erebus on Feb 12, 2015 11:58:41 GMT
Here, as promised is a quicky on Snowbeast. Again sorry for lack of pic. I have neither the skills or the capabilities to put one up. Dem always bails me out though.
We begin way up in the snowy slopes of Ben McDhui, where after a group of Deer are spooked off, then we meet Shepherd Hughie Fergus, who whilst doing his rounds is shocked to see his usually tough mutt Rory bolt back indoors to the cottage, its spooked by some strange crying it hears off in the hills. A superstitious Hughie is convinced its The Big Grey Man of Ben MacDhui, or The Snowbeast. Meanwhile in a Monastery below in the village Father Robert finds Father Andrew in a proper state in his quarters.
Next day Charles Mitchell the local ranger and mountain guide is setting up a party to venture the aforementioned slopes. He's having a little difficulty with a certain Sir John Hastings. A basic been-there, done-that know it all. Thankfully that can't be said about the American Tony Glover. It isn't long before they too hear the crying up in the peaks from something strange and unfathomable. Hastings the know all says he once heard similar sounds up on Mount Everest, Yeah whatever mate.
Back down in Bundalloch village young Ellen McDonald has just arrived to pay her Uncle Murdo a visit. After stopping off for a Cheese and tomato butty at the local motel and pub she hears the tanked up Hughie Fergus shooting his mouth off about the Snowbeast. An intrigued Ellen is asked to question her Uncle about this. But her Uncle isn't home, as he is attending the poorly Father Andrew in the monastery. The cries from the hills are sending him bat shit crazy it would seem.
Up in the hills the climbers discover the old ruined Danduff castle, where once a certain Black Angus Rattray once dwelled. His apparent pastimes were torture, devil worship and black magic. He also is said to own a devil creature that he used to keep people away who unpleased him. This sounds interesting.
Hamish Cameron a sheep farmer hears a whole lot of commotion, on investigation he sees his sheep going bananas , rushing about in a frenzy. Bruce the dog is no good and he too makes a bolt for it. The scramble results in two sheep plummeting down a ravine, and another dying of burst blood vessels through panic ( erm ok ? )
Back to the climbers, and the difficult Hastings is getting on everyones nerves now. So much to the fact where he takes over the hike. But like the total tit he is, ends up out cold and with a broken leg after a bothched showing-off attempt. There no doubt about it our hero Charles Mitchell will have to get the others safe and get help, whilst Glover offers to stay behind as the night draws in. As is my anticipation of a nocturnal Yeti attack on them.
Doc MacDonald does catch up with Ellen. And after much talk of Snowbeasts, Yeti's and even The Beathach an T Sneach ( what ?? ) he tells his niece of the findings in the Monastery, and deduces that Brother Andrew is possessed.
In the hills again. Glover is getting a bit uneasy. More cries are heard. And he presumes he sees a strange shadowy form in the blizzard watching him. AT LAST the monster is here. But wait...... its gone He buggers of back to his tent anyway. Hamish Cameron meanwhile is chuffed. He's managed to find a buyer for two of his dead sheep, but another sheep of his buys the farm in a stampede as more commotion sends the animals barmy. And the Doc thinks he sees a hairy brown form walking along the roadside that night after a trip to check on the Abbot. But when he gets out to check, he reckons it could be a tree. Now at this point I'm beginning to get a bit fed up with the false scares and dead ACCIDENTAL sheep casualties. I want some hardcore sightings, or attacks. Hell even a pair of eyes peering through at someone would help. But Tremayne is really digging his heels on this one. Anyway.
Next morning Doc discovers that Brother Andrew has recovered. Apparently he was exorcised during the night and feels ok. Sod that thinks Doc, I'm gonna hypnotise him. Here we get the usual " its coming" and " Beware " etc. Glover has been found by the helicopter. He loads up the injured Hastings, but declines a lift as he wants to follow the tracks he has seen in the snow. They ultimately take him to the old castle, where he sees a form wandering about ( at last ) he creeps down and carefully enters a large hall. THEN he hears a sound behind him and turns to see........ Ellen Mac Donald...... No Snowy . Right that's it half time I'm having a break from this a while.
Don't get me wrong it s a decent read. But there's nothing gripping to keep you reading. The blokes in the pub keep on giving their Friday the 13th Crazy Ralph style stories, The book continues with the cries in the hills... CRIES.. CRIES, I want bellows and Roars. Even a Growl would do. But Cries doesn't exactly give me the creeps and set the tone. Even in the dodgy old film Boggy Creek we saw virtually nothing but somebody sat on an outhouse loo got shook up as the shack got....well shook up. This book is exactly how Curse of LochNess was. Maybe it will pick up as that one did. More to come....
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