While we were at Dark Delicacies (and OH! do I wish there was a store like that here in Seattle!), one of the books I picked up was Ancestral Hungers by Scott Baker. (clicky-link to Amazon.) I rather wish I hadn't.
Here, let me show you what Library Journal had to say about it:
"When his career as a drug smuggler comes to an abrupt halt, David Bathory reluctantly returns to the claustrophobic family he has spent most of his life trying to escape. There he discovers the infernal heritage of his ancestors and realizes that, despite his best efforts, he must enter into a dark world of vampiric intrigue if he hopes to survive. The author's revision of his earlier novel Dhampire (1982) employs an amorphous mixture of Eastern and Western vampire legendry liberally dosed with scenes of graphic violence and explicit sex. Weak plotting and unlikable characters limit this novel's appeal to hard-core fans of blood and gore."
Y'know what? It's kind of boring to fans of blood and gore, too. I'm a fan of well-done splatterpunk horror, and this book is not that. The plot is weak; I can't tell if it's too convoluted to make sense or if it's just presented so poorly that any narrative logic is hidden. The characters are unlikable, not to mention barely realized; paper-thin and interchangeable are almost kind descriptions of them.
Silly me, it was the book I put in my carry-on to read on the flight home. I've got about ... 50 pages left to go, and I'm just not going to bother finishing it.
Oooh, maybe I should re-read that historical mystery with Edgar Allan Poe as the narrator, I liked that a lot ...
Here, let me show you what Library Journal had to say about it:
"When his career as a drug smuggler comes to an abrupt halt, David Bathory reluctantly returns to the claustrophobic family he has spent most of his life trying to escape. There he discovers the infernal heritage of his ancestors and realizes that, despite his best efforts, he must enter into a dark world of vampiric intrigue if he hopes to survive. The author's revision of his earlier novel Dhampire (1982) employs an amorphous mixture of Eastern and Western vampire legendry liberally dosed with scenes of graphic violence and explicit sex. Weak plotting and unlikable characters limit this novel's appeal to hard-core fans of blood and gore."
Y'know what? It's kind of boring to fans of blood and gore, too. I'm a fan of well-done splatterpunk horror, and this book is not that. The plot is weak; I can't tell if it's too convoluted to make sense or if it's just presented so poorly that any narrative logic is hidden. The characters are unlikable, not to mention barely realized; paper-thin and interchangeable are almost kind descriptions of them.
Silly me, it was the book I put in my carry-on to read on the flight home. I've got about ... 50 pages left to go, and I'm just not going to bother finishing it.
Oooh, maybe I should re-read that historical mystery with Edgar Allan Poe as the narrator, I liked that a lot ...
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Especially if I utter the Eight Deadly Words:
"I don't care what happens to these people."
Most recent?
The Secret History of the American Empire. Unlikeable protagonist of tedious "non-fiction" work about economic hit men. After 15 pages, I wanted him to die in a fire, so that did not bode well for the book.
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hmmmn..
I wanted to say I loved your Halloween pics (and my wife told me to tell you she did too). We don't really celebrate it over here in Oz, but I personally do basically every day. I drew a few Halloween themed pics for friends who do celebrate it more and did some designs for badges and coffee mugs etc but we were not able to get them up in my online shop in time for the holiday.
Oh and I am still working on a pic of a 'toon version of you, an evil little girl character, but I have been nervous about scanning and uploading it as I am worried I cannot do you justice with th skill level (or lack of) that I have art-wise.
the troll
Lawrence
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