The recent Twitter announcement from author Bryan Smith on his decision to abandon hardcore horror with his forthcoming book KAYLA AND THE DEVIL couldn’t come at a better time. I was just telling myself last week how tiresome the genre was fast becoming. Especially after sitting through the very explicit SOULTAKER by Smith, no less. Written in 2009 this fifth offering for Leisure was a turn of events in itself since Smith, then-known for choosing action over substance, took a different approach by focusing as much on his characterization than on his action sequences. And it paid off, for on his next venture, a little book called DEPRAVED, he went all out and delivered his best written novel to date. If you have yet to try a hardcore novel by him, I suggest you pick this one first. You’ll thank me later, trust me.
But back to SOULTAKER. I was looking forward to reconnect with this author since it had been a while since I had read anything by him. With all the hoopla made last year over Leisure ending their paperback horror line, I was still reticent in choosing any titles associated with this publishing company. Anyway, to make a long story short, I was happy to finally be over this boycotting thing and plunged right into this tale of female devil worshippers and the men who are their prey. I wanted to love this book; in fact, I was more than ready to be mesmerized by it, but, alas, as much as I tried, it just wasn’t going to happen. Blame it on the author’s then-new style of approach; blame it on my already boiling decision of abandoning hardcore horror; heck, blame it on my advancing years if you want. Bottom line is I was over SOULTAKER very quickly.
After turning the last page I realized how much time I had wasted reading this book. Now, before anyone looses it big time and starts sending me hate mail, let me say that Bryan Smith SOULTAKER is a very well-constructed hardcore horror novel. Probably one of the best in the genre, even. It just isn’t for me anymore. I’m clearly over and done with this type of horror. Like the author, I’m ready to move on to bigger and better things. So, naturally, it thrills me to find out that Smith has decided to change his tune as well. He is a fine writer, and I would hate to see him left at the curb while new horizons await me.
Until next post—Martin
