‘PAPERBACKS FROM HELL’ BY GRADY HENDRIX

I knew if I ventured into Grady Hendrix’s PAPERBACKS FROM HELL (2017, Quirk Books) two things would eventually happen: I would end up loving it to pieces, and then, once the list made up, I would try to get a hold of as many of the schlocky novels discussed in this nonfiction event of the season. I swear, if you’re over 40 and yearn to reconnect with much loved titles from yesteryear or are simply a vintage horror paperback collector you need to get this book ASAP. You’ll definitely thank me later. 

The premise is rather ingenious. The author has gathered tons of scarcely known paperback covers for your eyes to linger on before, during and after the horror boom of the early ‘80s. Each chapter is dedicated to a specific era with images of the novels in question and plot summaries, author profiles and publishers info. Grady Hendrix is indeed an encyclopedia of knowledge as he examines with a fine tooth comb every little known gems in existence including the ones that were popular at the time but now seem to have been completely forgotten, like Ken Eulo’s THE BROWNSTONES trilogy or the erotic paperbacks of Russ Martin. Every page is a delightful homage to sub-themes (demonic possession, ghostly intrusion, homicidal crabs or vegetation…) that ultimately become a feast to the eyes and mind. 

Moreover, PAPERBACKS FROM HELL is complete with an Afterword by none other than Mr. Knowledge himself, Will Errickson. Those of you who have been following his amazing blog Too Much Horror Fiction will recognized many titles that he’s come to love or shun over the years. Like his dedicated entries he gives you a clear line as to what is really worth your time, because, truth be told, some of those featured titles are far from being compelling. One thing’s for sure, however, all have their devoted fans—not to mention fetching covers, mostly created by unsung artists who are graciously spotlighted by Hendrix. So impressed am I with the overall result of PAPERBACKS FROM HELL that I will move on from owning a digital ARC (thanks to the publishers and NetGalley) to purchasing a paperback copy just so I can truly savor the merits of this wonderful coffee table of a book.

  

Until next post—Martin 

‘JUST ADD WATER’ BY HUNTER SHEA

 

Like many of you, I came across author Hunter Shea while surfing the many titles on Amazon. I had just gotten myself an e-reader and I couldn’t wait to use it. One of Shea’s novels was a freebie, so I did what any healthy horror geek would: I clicked on the Buy now with 1-Click button and took it from there. Suffice to say that I had a ball reading this thing. It reminded me of Laymon and you know how I feel about him: any friend of Laymon is a friend of mine.   

When I realized that the latest Shea was available on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, well, I just couldn’t pass it up.  So here I am about to discuss JUST ADD WATER and the only thing that comes to mind is this: add more pages to it. Indeed, I would have preferred another 100 pages or so, just enough to make it all seem less rushed. Of course, this reads like a vintage paperback horror novel from the ‘80s. You know the kind, those that focus on action sequences and little else. Still, a tad more emphasis on characterization would have been just great. Don’t get me wrong now, I did enjoy this novelette (the fun starts pretty early and never lets up). No, the problem I had is that, at times, I could barely decipher one character from the next—especially when it involved the main ones whom I kept mixing up despite a clear line in the narrative.  

The plot involves two pre-teen boys and their Frankenstein-made little sea monsters that keep growing and growing to the point of scaring the bejesus out of an entire town. It’s up to their creators to put a stop to them and their ravenous streak before it becomes too late—or is it too late already? 

JUST ADD WATER is fun, silly, gory, but most importantly a must if you’re into B-grade-like efforts. It is the perfect antidote for all those ambitious horror books considered mandatory by the well-read crowd. OPTICAL DELUSION is the next installment and comes out in August. Can’t wait.

  

Until next post—Martin

 

 

 

 

 

‘FESTIVAL’ BY AARON J. FRENCH

 

When I agreed to review this title for Unnerving I obviously had no idea what I was getting myself into. Here I was thinking that this read was going to be a Jack Ketchum-like tale with lots of violence and gore in between straight-shooting narrative when in reality it was far from that. Well, not exactly. The novelette does have its gruesome moments, especially towards the end, but this well-written piece about a young couple who unknowingly enters the realm of a primitive rite when they decide to stay at a hot springs resort is more R-rated than NC17.  

Mind you, some sexually-charged sequences can easily attract some interest, especially those involving female on female action, but the overall feeling I got from reading FESTIVAL is that gratuitous scenes like this one doesn’t make more involving a novel. Before some of you guys get miffed, let me reiterate that this effort was FAR from being what I expected. So if anyone has to go down it must be little moi for maintaining a less than impressed state of mind. Because, to be frank with you, FESTIVAL is still highly readable with its well-drawn main characters and interestingly-enough plot. Author Aaron J. French tries his best to deliver the goods and even succeeds at times. His build-up takes a little while but once out there the blood sure does flow, and that despite some misogynistic approach (all the women in this story are evil) that may end up rubbing some people the wrong way.  

I wish I could have enjoyed more FESTIVAL. But you know the old saying: what I dislike about a book may turn out to be just what the doctor ordered for somebody else. So who knows, maybe you’ll dig the heck out of this title.

 

You can order FESTIVAL at the Unnerving Magazine website.

 

Until next post—Martin 

 

 

‘ARARAT’ BY CHRISTOPHER GOLDEN

 

I went into ARARAT (Headline) knowing full well that the tale was going to rock. I just had a hunch. That the author is an established one definitely helped but the topic is what really drew me in. How could not it be when eventually it’s all about a bunch of doomed individuals stuck in a haunted cave inside Mount Ararat while a blizzard rages? Mind you, I always had a thing for evil spirits roaming dark places but when the entity is an unearthed malevolent force that can infiltrate anyone of these survivors I’m more than sold. I’m salivating.   

At about 300 pages, ARARAT takes its time before getting to the violence and gore. But once reached (in the last third or so) the reader is left with jaw-dropping moments and an adrenaline stance to still keep turning the pages. The novel, however, is blessed with more than just action sequences. There are real people in this, not just cardboard copies of what they’re supposed to be. All thanks to Golden’s savoir-faire which makes them come alive with their flawed attributes and introspective ways (a conflict of spiritual beliefs, for example). Yes, some are better developed than others but as a whole most leave you feeling like you know them quite a bit. So when evil surfaces, and believe me it does in a big way, these characters are more than just a body count. I literarily was rooting for any of them to make it in the end. And the plot is very well-handled. I never felt like the story dragged on. In fact, I could even have welcomed a few more chapters just so I could take a longer breather in between killings. 

Suffice to say, I highly recommend ARARAT, especially to anyone who loves adventure mixed with horror. Though, to me, it feels more like the other way around. No other adventure novel has ever left me looking over my shoulder like ARARAT did. I still get goosebumps just thinking about it. I’m sure others will feel the same way once they start reading.

 

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.

 

Until next post—Martin

US edition