What are you currently reading?

[brlesh]

After Imajica, I read Fright Train, an anthology of train stories edited by the Switch House Gang (Tony Tremblay’s, Charles Rutledge & Scott Goudsward).

I liked the first story by Bracken MacLeod and the closing ghost stories by Amanda Dewees and Christopher Golden.

After Fright Train, I started Lord of Damnation by Simon Clark.

A 100 pages in and I’m enjoying LoD, though I thoroughly expect Clark to screw that up some how.

B

[brlesh]

Finally finished Imajica.

Definitely a love / hate relationship with this book. At various times I didn’t want to put it down, at other times I didn’t want to pick it up.

Maybe, like with Barker’s Weaveworld, I would like it better on the second reading (though a second reading of Imajica would be some years down the road), where I could just get immersed in the story and not worry about keeping all the characters & names & places straight in my head.

Overall, I thought the book was 150 or so pages too long, and found the climax to be a bit underwhelming, though I did find Barker’s overall ending to be quite satisfying.

B

[RonClinton]

Unless they somehow made a deal for his newly announced Crypt of the Moon Spider....

I hadn't heard about this one, but just looked it up -- thanks for the heads up. I still suspect it's more likely THE STRANGE, given that THE CRYPT OF THE MOON SPIDER is a novella, and I don't believe Midworld's done any slim volumes like that.

[Chuggers]

No sweat, I think we’re both right. If it’s not THE STRANGE, I’ll be very surprised…I wouldn’t think they’d do one of his collections, as acclaimed as they are, at least based on their novel-heavy lineup.

Unless they somehow made a deal for his newly announced Crypt of the Moon Spider....

[RonClinton]

Sorry to repeat what Ron said in his Midworld post!

No sweat, I think we’re both right. If it’s not THE STRANGE, I’ll be very surprised…I wouldn’t think they’d do one of his collections, as acclaimed as they are, at least based on their novel-heavy lineup.

[Chuggers]

Wondering if this is the new Midworld title announcement coming this week?

Sorry to repeat what Ron said in his Midworld post!

[Chuggers]

Would love to hear you review for this when done. Keep hearing great things about it and have been close to picking it up; however, something has held me back.

Wondering if this is the new Midworld title announcement coming this week?

[RonClinton]

Would love to hear you review for this when done. Keep hearing great things about it and have been close to picking it up; however, something has held me back.

Will do. I haven't made too much progress yet, but hope to have this one polished off in a few days.

[sholloman81]

Now THE STRANGE by Nathan Ballingrud.

Would love to hear you review for this when done. Keep hearing great things about it and have been close to picking it up; however, something has held me back.

[RonClinton]

THE WAGER by David Grann. Good stuff.

Now THE STRANGE by Nathan Ballingrud.

[RonClinton]

THE WAGER by David Grann. Good stuff.

[JJ123]

A Clive Barker book was mentioned above, and that has me thinking...there are two I was thinking of looking into, but I am not certain whether I should or not (not his biggest fan, but I did enjoy the Books of Blood). Any insight on The Damnation Game and The Great and Secret Show?

As for what I am currently reading, well...it isn't horror or science fiction, but I will mention it anyway for those who may be interested: Unscripted, a book about the late Viacom chief Sumner Redstone. Pretty engaging, as many of these kinds of nonfiction books are...

[sholloman81]

Just finished reading the Thunderstorm LE of Joe & Kasey Lansdale's "Dark Kin". Really enjoyed it, as I do all of the Lansdale's stuff. My favorites in the collection were "Tremble", a sweet little riff on Sk's Carrie, and the new one "Sea Legs", perhaps the start (hopefully) of a new series featuring a merwoman detective! In terms on the production, as always, Thunderstorm knocked it out of the park. Really love the covert-art & overall color-scheme on this one. I do wish Paul had left the title off of the spine like the rest of the BV series, but it's not the end of the world. it just sticks out when you have it among the other BV titles. Overall, am very glad to add this to my Lansdale & Thunderstorm collections and would give the book a B-.

[sholloman81]

Just finished reading the Thunderstorm LE of Phillip Fracassi's "Beneath A Pale Sky". Sweet Jesus what a collection of stories! I read Fracassi's "Behold the Void" just prior to this and thought that there was no way he could top it. Boy was I wrong! Every story in Beneath A Pale Sky was fantastic, and a few absolutely destroyed me. My top three in this collection were Fragile Dreams, Symphony, & The Wheel. I haven't been able to stop thinking about all three of those stories. Overall, this was an A+ read for me. "Behold the Void" & "Beneath A Pale Sky" have converted this reader into a Fracassi fanatic who is jonesing for the next collection!

[sholloman81]

Just finished reading the Thunderstorm LE of Phillip Fracassi's "Behold the Void". This was my first Fracassi read, and HOLY CRAP, what a fantastic collection of stories! Totally lived-up to the hype. Not a weak sister in the bunch. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be "Alter". Haven't been able to get that one out of my head since reading it. Definitely will be on my all-time favorite short stories list. "Surfer Girl" and "Madala" also really stood out for me as well. Overall, IMO, this is an A+ collection of stories. Really glad that I opted to pick-up the Fracassi set from Thunderstorm and hope they can release more of his stuff in the future!