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Post by nightreader on Dec 2, 2007 8:45:36 GMT
Horrorscope #1: The Green Flames Of Aries by Robert Lory (Pinnacle 1974) After reading Justin’s excellent ‘Paperback Fanatic’ and his interview with Robert Lory, I was looking forward to this. He didn’t give too much away about this series, except to say it finished after the fourth book. I’d enjoyed all the Lory Dracula books that I’ve read so far so figured I couldn’t go far wrong with this one. And I didn’t, although this was quite different and lacks a lot of the action of the Dracula series. There’s a brief prologue featuring a mysterious grey robed character who sets the story in motion. He looks out into the stars from a great hall, the signs of the zodiac on the floor. He chooses Aries, for his entertainment… The story begins off the coast of Honalulu with a group of characters aboard ‘The Silver Lining’, a private yacht hired for an exclusive party by Dora Davage, wealthy society queen. They are a mixed bunch, from Mark Larimer (self confessed beach bum, living off the favours of attractive rich ladies), to Harlan (a pop star with a couple of teenage groupies in attendance), to beautiful rich widow Nara Charles (still grieving for her lost husband), to Professor Randall Warren (pipe smoking boffin), to Avery Sorg (unpleasant bald fat banker), to Cantos (mystery man) and finally Lesli Cross (Dora’s “nod to democracy”, for Lesli isn’t one of the rich party set). In addition there’s crusty Captain Craddock at the helm of the ‘Silver Lining’. This has the classic set up for a whodunnit, introduce your mix of unlikely characters then isolate them, in this case in the middle of the Pacific. But instead of a dead body turning up the revellers on the yacht find a raft, drifting toward them. On the raft is a man barely alive and once on board they realise he has no eyes. Dora’s party takes an unlikey turn with the arrival of the old man, starving and dehydrated he rambles about an island and fire and treasure. In his pocket are two gold coins bearing the head of the Ram of Aries. The majority of the book takes place on the yacht. The engines inexplicably burst into flames and are beyond repair, the radio is burned out too, then a dense cloud of fog settles over them and the yacht drifts. Tensions grow between the characters, some of them keen on finding the treasure the blind man has talked about, but there is no island anywhere nearby according to the map. The fog lifts and the yacht drifts. The old man jumps overboard and is consumed by what appear to be green fames…underwater. Before he jumped he seemed to be pointing. To their amazement the crew see an island, a strange island that looks as if it’s been created… The yacht gets closer to the island and seems to pick up speed, crashing into the rocks with just enough time for those on board to get safely on it. Once on the island things move ahead quite quickly – the treasure is discovered, the link to Aries is explained and the fate of the generally unpleasant characters is sealed. It’s a neatly wrapped up ending with death and fate and sacrifice. And it doesn’t finish how you think it will… On reflection I liked this one, it isn't action packed, it isn't bloody or horrifying at all, but it is mysterious and intriguing and sometimes that makes a refreshing change. I wonder what Lory would have done with an out and out whodunnit...
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Post by dem bones on Dec 2, 2007 18:09:14 GMT
I would say 'straight to wants-list' but it's been there since the PF interview. How utterly bollocks to learn that the fifth Horrorscope, the most promisingly titled Claws Of The Crab only appeared in Germany!
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Post by andydecker on Dec 29, 2007 20:16:27 GMT
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Post by dem bones on Sept 23, 2009 9:53:38 GMT
Blurb: It is mid-March. In astrology and the ancient occult sciences it is the season of Aries, the Ram. Swiftly approaching is the vernal equinox — the ritualistic time for Spring to be consummated. As the esoteric hour of midnight, March 21, approaches, a group of elegant people is spotted on a drifting yacht, off the coast of Hawaii.
Out of the blinding fog, an old man appears on a raft. He is rescued by the crew of beautiful people. Suddenly, the old man lets forth a terrible, chilling scream and points. "There it is - the fire, the fire!" A black volcanic island looms upward from the sea. Sobbing and moaning, the man dives overboard. "Please - we mustn't go near that place!" one of the women shrieks hysterically. "I feel it!"
But there is no choice. The island is the only land in sight, and the yacht, having a failed motor, is drifting that way, as if propelled from some unseen force...
This is the first volume in the all-new Horrorscope series — frightening, original tales of modern life, disrupted ,and devastated by the forces of the supernatural.
Cover: John Holmes The God Aires is about to play his annual spiteful prank on a group of hapless, human playthings so when Dora Davage, the filthy rich, wannabe-decadent sculptress, hand-picks a group of beautiful and brilliant acquaintances to join her aboard The Silver Lining, she has no reason to suspect that she's leading them all into the choppiest waters of all! The legion of the damned are a varied bunch to say the least. Along with Dora and the suitably gnarled, surly Captain Craddock, we meet; Mark Larimer, occupation: beach bum. A shady past, but slightly less so than many of his fellow voyagers. His resourcefulness eventually singles him out as the parties nominal leader although likable old cynic Prof. Randall Warren comes up with the best ideas, him being the superb brain of the piece. Lesli Cross. A pleasant young student teacher, totally out of her social class and depth in such esteemed company. Her caring nature singles her out as the obvious choice for nurse. Still a virgin at novel's outset. Harlan Hickley, rock star, and his interchangeable teenage groupies Natalie and Sharon. As useless as you'd expect. Mr. Sorg, the shady bank manager. A sweaty, conniving lump of lard. When things go wrong, he is only concerned for his own skin. Most of the other characters get to land a punch on him at some stage. It's the one time they actually get to enjoy themselves. Nanda Charles, beautiful widow. Her husband Alan went missing, presumed drowned on this same stretch of ocean exactly a year ago. Mr. Cantos. A sinister, unfazed presence. As befits an arms-dealer and contract killer. Almost from the first, there are tensions between several parties, not helped in the least by Dora who clearly only organizes such events to Queen it over her guests, but when the tortured, eyeless man comes floating toward them against the current babbling some incoherent nonsense about green fire and treasure, it's as well for him that he carries two gold coins or he'd likely have been thrown straight back over the side as shark bait. Obviously, everyone likes the sound of all this gold lying around for the taking, but from the state of our mutilated castaway, obtaining it will not be without peril. And as Captain Craddock points out, how do you set a course for an uncharted island? No worries on that score. Aires has arranged everything for them. If I prefer Lory's Dracula Returns series, it's only because vampires are more my thing - much of Green Flames Of Aires has cosmic fantasy/ Sci-Fi overtones for goodness sake! - but had a great time with this, fair belted through it and, for once, the ending is not only spot on but truly horrific. What I still like about this is the never changing prologue with the mad god or fate or whatever. Gave me the creeps back then.
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Post by helrunar on Oct 19, 2019 23:12:56 GMT
This sounds like an interesting premise for a series. I'll keep it in mind if I ever spot any of the books at one of my local shops.
H.
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