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Post by erebus on Feb 11, 2015 11:44:00 GMT
Did I really type that post above all those years ago Anyway a quick question to any owners of this novel. Is it me, or my copy or is this book a little bit smaller in size ? I don't mean the page count I mean the actual height if-you-will of the book. My other Grafton novels are not this size, and I don't have Worm to see if that also is the same. Just a random question to the members, perhaps I have a hybrid copy.
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Post by erebus on Feb 11, 2015 11:39:31 GMT
BRIGHT EYES...BURNING LIKE FIRE . Picked this up recently. Looking forward to having a bash at it. The cover is dreadfully lame and uninspiring isn't it ?
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Post by erebus on Feb 11, 2015 11:26:55 GMT
There doesn't appear to be much love for poor old Volume 18. Even Dem had a little pop at it in a previous post ( 25th volume ) Shame on you Dem. Shame. In seriousness I happen to like this one quite a lot. Of course there are the mundane boring pointless fillers like Fly Eater . And Meat is also a little boring, and dare I say it The Island of the Seals offers little if nothing. But lets look at the good stuff. Coffin Flies is brilliant. And well up there in my personal Pan favourites. I mean come on folks it begins with a young girl getting her head split open in a creepy forest by an Axe-man, then goes even more grisly. The subject matter is grim, as should all horror be, and the outcome of the main protagonist is equally horrific. I would say Coffin Flies is essential Pan Horror reading. Norman Kaufman always gives us the outlandish gore. Here we get a crushed shattered women getting melted and roasted alive in a burning car in his tale Rest in Peace. But for me the most violent story is Quod Erat Demonstrandum. by Judith Eleanor Green. Love the way the narrative bounces back and forth between the two main characters. And the descriptions of the subsequent head bashing and brain fondling is superb....reservoir of gore indeed . Rosemary Timperley is the master of the subtle ghost story, and here she delivers yet another little yarn,which although doesn't stand above her other efforts, still delivers the chills, and for me Unknown Caller does the business. Tape Worms and spiders and bugs and stuff always go down a treat, hence The Boy with the Golden Eyes and Its Hungry being winners. As for Belvedere's Bride. Of course you establish where its going pretty early on, but it still evokes a shiver or two. Stevie by Monica Lee is superb. And a far greater effort than her story in the previous volume, which was far to overlong and did nothing for me in the long run.And as for the remaining stories, whilst not memorable or stand outs they are far more superior than some I can point too ( Anybody read volume 28 can testify ) So theres my view. I won't have any more bullying of Volume 18. Its better than its predecessor. And for Coffin Flies alone deserves some credit. Plus I like the cover too.
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Post by erebus on Feb 9, 2015 23:04:39 GMT
Very Sad news indeed. The man was responsible for directing one of my all time favourite, and best Hammer film Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter.
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Post by erebus on Feb 3, 2015 13:34:34 GMT
Ok, I'll tie up a few loose ends, then have a crack at Snowbeast. In that time you'll be tackling Curse of Loch Ness I imagine. Could this Cryptozoological read through theme be a Vault first ?
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Post by erebus on Feb 3, 2015 13:26:29 GMT
This is instantly on the must have list. Looks superb.
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Post by erebus on Jan 31, 2015 19:53:09 GMT
Just got through reading Lee's SLITHER not to long ago. He isn't the most gifted of writers, but you have a good time with what he gives you. As I'm a fan of the trashy bugs and critters attack novels SLITHER delighted me. Its depraved and extreme to the core. Pink worms entering and pouring out of every orifice. Whats not to like ?
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Post by erebus on Jan 31, 2015 19:34:38 GMT
I will be brutally honest, but I have never really read anything by Graham Masterton. I did start one of his a few years ago ( think it was titled Burial ) but it did nothing at all for me, and I commited the cardinal sin of not finishing a book, which is something I never ever do. Reason for my reluctance is this whole American folklore and Manitou thing he always seems to put in most his books. Wearing a bit thin now. But someone told me his book Sleepless is very good so perhaps Ive been a little to harsh. Also I loved Eric the Pie. Could Figures of Fear be a good place to start ? Maybe. The cover to it is superb .
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Post by erebus on Jan 31, 2015 19:25:52 GMT
Managed to snag a copy of Snowbeast recently. The old Star paperback. Very happy to give it a prioritised read through and quicky review if anybody is interested
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Post by erebus on Jan 31, 2015 19:14:14 GMT
Like most of the members on this site I grew up reading the Pan books. As a small boy they were everywhere. Sadly not anymore, but back in the day they popped up all over the place. As I went to various friends and relatives houses there was always one or two of these books around. My elder sister always took me around the town centre to book stalls where I was thrilled at the sights on the covers. Skulls, spiders and skeletons, believing the tales within featured just that very scene depicted on the covers. I even bought a whole lot of them from a book stall for my Mum one Mothers Day knowing very well she wouldn't read them ( not her thing ) so I could claim them. The covers always struck a chord. But also the descriptions on the back to delighted me, and brought out the sick ghoul within. Although as a boy of six or so I knew the stories may have been a little complex for me, so I just hunted down the gory stuff and wallowed in the mayhem. The blurbs on the back covers helped out until I was old enough and more educated to understand the stories.
The early editions just mainly told of the authors within, or gave us indicators such as. Subtle frightfulness Malign insanity Gruesome infamy Startling terror ( Volume 2 ).
Sometimes they mentioned the tales within like Volume 4 did THE LITTLE GIRL EATER SLIME THE HAUNTED TELEPHONE. Just those titles scared the crap out of me. But none more so than the descriptions on numbers 9 and 10. The Bedroom that was deep in Blood The rubber face man who left a trail of slime The Jolly Uncle and the dummy that sucked Blood The film director who flayed his girl alive The wife who turned into an insect.
Those alone were enough to have me going. Then as the volumes went on the gore became more graphic as we all know to well. Alex White, Norman Kaufman two of the main culprits. An early indicator was on the back of number 5 with its classic ..... ...The severed head lay in the dogs basket, fluff sticking to the lips, sightless eyes gazing up at the ceiling.. How could you not love that.
Some of my favourite examples of gory shenanigans are as follows.
It was heavy work shovelling in his liver and intestines, heart and limbs-even his brain which I tore from his skull after cracking it open with a bung hammer ( Volume 26 )
He pushed the point of the hook into the stump, and began to turn it, exerting all his strength...Thick dark blood welled up, like...like jelly that hasn't set ( Volume 14 )
Gwyneth placed the point of the pin on the iris of his left eye and pushed, sinking it inuntil the pinhead was flush with the surface of the eyeball. ( Volume 23 )
To punish Susanna by peeling her skin with a butchers knife and sprinkling her raw flesh with pepper. ( Volume 20 )
Her grey and pink brains oozed from his shattered skull and trickled down his eyeless face. ( Volume 21 )
So as you can see these books where a Godsend to a young rampant horror fiction lover. Crude, violent and very descriptive. And responsible for so many writers inspiration.
Are there any memorable back cover blurbs that coaxed in you ? Any that stick out. Volume 9 was always the one that struck a chord with me. As well as 14. But what about yourselves ?
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Post by erebus on Jan 27, 2015 22:26:42 GMT
Just began reading this one. To be truthful I'm not really enjoying it that much. Hopefully it will pick up.
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Post by erebus on Jan 10, 2015 20:05:09 GMT
Saw it in Waterstones for the past couple of months meaning to pick it up. Go today to get it, and would'nt you just know it GONE ! Although in all truth I still need the 24th.
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Post by erebus on Jan 10, 2015 20:00:37 GMT
Thanks for the advice on the Woman in Black sequel. I'll avoid. I went crackers over xmas and watched a whole load of stuff including
THE BABADOOK ... brilliant ABCs of DEATH 2 .... awful the first is far superior. OCCULUS.. enjoyed thouroughly. AS ABOVE SO BELOW... Basic horror fodder but not bad. VHS VIRAL. Poor they should stop making these. WOLF CREEK 2 ... Very gory and very good fun. Big improvement. X-MEN DAYS OF FUTURE PAST. ... Great beginning and end, middle Meh ! SIN CITY A DAME TO whatever its called .....rubbish got bored and turned it off.
re visited ..
KILLER KLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE HOUSE 2 .... I was drunk leave me alone. COMBAT SHOCK.... A fabulous film that always makes me feel sympathetic, gloomy and then grateful for what I have. A superb film that gets better each viewing.
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Post by erebus on Jan 10, 2015 19:51:45 GMT
Read this one just before the festive period. I loved it. And the indeed the crabs do take the backstory as the animal rights activist steals the show with his barbaric deaths he bestows upon the characters ( who in my opinion deserved it ) Peter Merrick is the name of the brute, he and his troubled,terrified and reluctant girlfriend Christine capture and kidnap a host of victims like Wally Orme, who pays for his hobby of duck shooting, they take him out to the marshes and sever his legs below the knee, the plan is for the little crabs to finish him off. But its the big Daddies who soon get in on the act. Brian and Louise soon find that out. The fornicating interupted by the crabs who tear poor Louise in two and feast on her guts. Whilst trying to flee from the yellow pus spewing monsters Brian is held aloft and pulled apart limb from limb like a fly. Brilliant. In fact each chapter has some form of carnage going on. I read it in one sitting ,its that relentless. In fact I may even stick my neck out and say I enjoyed it more than Killer Crabs .
Another thing to note. Is it just me or has this once scarce book become more available now ? At one point it was nowhere. Now they seem to pop up all over .
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Post by erebus on Jul 30, 2014 13:55:55 GMT
Hi Again. Well how do I make this sound ok without sounding like an ungrateful sod ? I'll be honest with you. I have a lot of those issues already. The 4 issues in the 500s I need. and the early issues 101..119 ..180..181..186.. and 189. I'm sorry if this seems a little amount. I managed to find a guy who lives in a neighbouring town who helped me tie up the 200s-400s. Sorry. If you think its worth your while send me those please feel free to send me a price. Once again I'm sorry if your feel your efforts are wasted. If its any consolation, I really hope Spurs finish second in the Prem this season
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