What are some good books with...

On a whim years ago I bought a paperback about The Wolfman (the Lon Chaney Jr. version). I figured it would be crap but it was actually quite enjoyable. It treated all the Universal Monster movies, including the Abbott and Costello movies, as cannon. It was kind of clever how the writer dealt with the Abbott and Costello characters. I don't recall the writers name or even the title but it should be easy enough to find in an Amazon search. I also believe it may have been part of a series.

If you like the Universal monster movies you might like to look these up. Depending on your reading level you can probably crank through it in an evening.

Pick up some H.P. Lovecraft.

Actually, I believe it was also Jeff Rovin who wrote The Wolf man novel. Have you tried any of James Herbert's mutant rat books? They ain't too shabby.

Creature books

Wolf's Hour by Robert McCammon
Stinger by Robert McCammon (Anything by him is terrific)
The Fallen by Dale Bailey
Riverwatch by Joe Nassise
Watchers by Dean Koontz
Midnight by Dean Koontz
Crota by Owl Goingback
The Harvest by Scott Nicholson
Deep into the Darkness by Mike Laimo (forthcoming, not out yet)
Black Oak series by Charles Grant (especially #2)
Threshold by Cailtin Kiernan

to name a few...

Joe

I recommend The Descent by Jeff Long

Here's a description:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...72741484/sr=1-

Tick Tock by Koontz was amusing. That whole book was about a man on the run from a lizard-thing.

Vespers is a cool giant bats novel. I believe that was Jeff Rovin.

This isn't a creature book, it's a zombie book, but it's one of the best novels I've ever read.
Pontypool Changes Everything is a story of zombie takeover, set in small towns across Ontario (Canada). Apparently it's out of print (as you will see with the link), but it's an amazing read. The entire novel flows like a poem, and builds an environment the reader can invest all of their emotions it. It's not just a zombie novel, it's a novel about life. IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

Bruce McDonald (Hard Core Logo) talked about making it into a film, but apparently couldn't come up with the cash to do it. I'm kinda happy about that, it would be more than a task to do it any justice.

If anyone can get their hands on it, I suggest they do - you'd probably have better luck than most if you live in Canada though.

the resident evil books are good readin'

....though not necessarily scary

As someone mentioned, it was by Jeff Rovin and called "Return of the Wolfman" and yeah I thought it was a blast. It also brought in White Zombie and Werewolf of London. Great fun.

The Bridge by John Skipp & Craig Spector.

A great scary book, with some of the most horrific monsters you will EVER find!

If they ever made this into a movie, I don't think I'd ever be able to watch it...it would be that disturbing.

There are images you get from this book that will stick with you for a looong time.

Trust me.

Want to be disturbed and scared, and have plenty of Monster action?

Read: The Bridge.

Then try to get some sleep...

Good ole Jeff 'Carpel Tunnel' Rovin. I have most of his Encylopedias (of Monsters, of Superheroes, of Supervillians). There are convenient bathroom reading for the Man of Leisure

War of the Worlds is another good, obviously a classic, monster book. I think it's held up quite well for being 100 years old. The section where the main character is stumbling around avoiding the martians (especially when he is hiding in the cellar) remains quite chilling.

The dudeabides has it right about the Skipp/Spector collaberation The Bridge . This novel had to have one of the darkest endings I've ever read. Gave me nightmares, and depressed me for a week afterwards.

Another great creature feature novel I'd recommend is another Dean Koontz thriller,Phantoms, which goes into detail about what caused several mass disappearances throughout history. Koontz wrote the screenplay to the movie, decent adaptation, although anything after Roger Corman's treatment of Watchers is pure gold, but I still like it. Besides, Ben Affleck is the bomb in it.

Re: Creature books

Wow, we apparently have VERY similar tastes in novels. Yet another reason I'm so enthusiastic about FINALLY getting my hands on a copy of your RIVERWATCH!

Although USHER'S PASSING stands as my all time favorite McCammon book, STINGER is right up there as well. I still find it absolutely amazing that noone in Hollywood ever optioned it & turned it into a balls out epic. Sort of a CLOSE ENCOUNTERS - Carpenter's THE THING hybrid.
Infact, I actually always envisioned it as the perfect John Carpenter project.

Goingback's CROTA was a creepy little pulsepounder itself that would also translate to film well. In the right hands of course.
Unfortunately, we've all seen what the film industry has done to poor Koontz' work.
I don't even want to know how many WATCHERS films were made in the end ( if they ever DID end... ), but it was obvious from the first that the people behind them just didn't get it.


And, back to a purely book related subject; what the heck ever happened to Grant's BLACK OAK series?!!
With it now having been about three years since his last installment, I can only guess that we've seen the last of it. And if that's the case, I certainly will miss Proctor & company.

Would you happen to have any info about the series fate?
I really can't imagine Grant just dropping the series after having set up so much plotline & leaving so much unanswered with the last book. So, I can only guess that if it is, infact, over that it was a publishing decision. If so, then that's just horrible for us fans of Grant's work & his series.
I can only hope that someday, somewhere down the line Grant will be able to either find a way to continue the series or at least produce a final novel that will tie up all the loose ends & bring the story of BLACK OAK to a close.

Hey Eyebulb, thanks for the heads up on Pontypool Changes Everything.

I read the description and rushed online to find it. I found it pretty cheap (about $18.00) and they already shipped it out to me.

Thanks for the info. I can't wait to read it.




I'm reading The Harvest by Scott Nicholson right now. It's like if the Creepshow segment "The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verill" spiraled out of control and the weeds were intelligent.

I'm halfway through it, and so far it's been good, but I'm waiting for something to knock my socks off...

Some good zombie books:

Wet Work by Phillip Nutman.

A great zombie book! Features good characters and some hot zombie action. You have a little bit of everything...Romero style zombies, and intelligent zombies. Good, gory stuff. Out of print and hard to find, but worth the effort.

They should make Wet Work into a movie. I'd do it if I had a movie deal.

The Dead by Mark E. Rogers

Another end of the world zombie book. Return of the Living Dead style zombies under the control of the demon Legion working towards a hell on Earth. These zombies are decayed, nothing keeps them down, and they like to torture their victims. Throw in some monsters and demons and you have it all.

One thing I didn't like was all the theological and religious discussion in the book. Damn near every character talks about the existance of God whenever there is a lull in the action. I like my God and mu horror separate, but that's just me.

Other than that, it's a good, fun violent read.

Black Oak

ROC shut down the Black Oak series due to a lack of sales, much to Charlie's regret. I know he has at least one more book in him - I would love to see some small press company put out the conclusion. (Hmm, that's not a bad idea for my own company, now that I think about it.)

If you ever get the chance to meet Charlie at a con, I suggest you do. He's a wonderful guy and very happy to talk with his fans. I've known him for a few years and have been greatly influenced by his style. His Millennium Quartet series is one of my favorites.

McCammon's Stinger was with Frank Darabont for awhile, if I remember right. He's also got MINE, which should see the light of day in the future as interest in the project has picked up again. McCammon's website, run by his good friend Hunter Goatley, is a great place to visit if you enjoy his stuff. http://www.robertmccammon.com/

Joe