What are you currently reading?

[brlesh]

Finished up The End of the World As We Know It, the massive The Stand related anthology edited by Golden and Keene the other night, and have to say I was pleasantly surprised. I went into this book with high hopes, as The Stand is one of my all time favorites, but also with a certain amount of trepidation, as I‘ve been disappointed with the edititorship of Golden & Keene in the past (whether working singularly or as a duo).

Good points: TEOTWAWKI is certainly the best anthology of original fiction I’ve read in quite sometime. Of the 34 total stories, most were at least enjoyable, which several of them being very good to great. The stories by Rio Youers & Meg Gardiner were my favorites of the anthology, absolute bangers in my opinion. There were also really good stories by Tim Lebbon, Bev Vincent, Ronald Malfi, Michael Koryta, Alma Katsu, SA Cosby, Poppy Z. Brite (there’s a blast from the past!), Somer Canon, Chuck Wendig, Cynthia Pelayo, Premee Mohamed, and Sarah Langan. There’s a lot of big genre names in there and they certainly brought their A-game to this anthology.

Disappointment: TEOTWAWKI is not a Stand immersive anthology. With this anthology, you’re not getting further stories / adventures of the characters in The Stand. These are stories set at the time The Stand takes place, but not involving the characters from the original story, other than Mother Abigail and Randall Flagg. Hence, a lot of the stories just kind of come off with a generic end of the world / horror story feel to them.

Overall, for the most part I really enjoyed this anthology. Just don’t go into it looking for a The Stand deep dive, as this book isn’t it.

B

[RonClinton]

I just finished WHEN THE WOLF COMES HOME by Nat Cassidy, and I really enjoyed it…one of the better horror reads I’ve had in a while. No, it’s not a perfect book, but it’s a compulsive tale with a lot of heart and it walks that balance well. Recommended.

[TacomaDiver]

Ugh, that's not what I wanted to hear.

The last two books in the Corbett series were awful...they ruined the whole series for me. Such a letdown, for a variety of reasons.

[dannyboy121070]

I've said it before elsewhere (here?) but my ready has really suffered since I don't have a stupid commute.

Anyways, this year I decided that was going to read the entire Matthew Corbett saga from Robert McCammon. At the beginning of October, I was mostly finished with the 8th book in the series. I had to take a break a few days ago because this volume was one of my least enjoyed volumes and I wasn't enjoying it very much. I'll probably pick it back up in a few days and then dive into the 9th volume soon.

The last two books in the Corbett series were awful...they ruined the whole series for me. Such a letdown, for a variety of reasons.

[TacomaDiver]

I've said it before elsewhere (here?) but my ready has really suffered since I don't have a stupid commute.

Anyways, this year I decided that was going to read the entire Matthew Corbett saga from Robert McCammon. At the beginning of October, I was mostly finished with the 8th book in the series. I had to take a break a few days ago because this volume was one of my least enjoyed volumes and I wasn't enjoying it very much. I'll probably pick it back up in a few days and then dive into the 9th volume soon.

[sholloman81]

Just finished reading the Thunderstorm LE of Ross Jeffrey's " Harvesting the Nightmare Fields". Overall, I'm a big fan of Jeffery's stuff, but I'm not quite sure how I feel about this book yet. I'd be lying if I said that the first half of the book wasn't a chore. The first-person style took a bit to get used to and the lead character has a counting tic/OCD that I found tough to get used to as well. The lead character is also missing his memories for a large chunk of the book so there was a lot of repetitive internal dialogue in that part of the story. That being said, by the halfway point of the book, the story really kicks into overdrive, and the writing style gets clearer as the main character gains his faculties back, and by that point, I found myself completely captivated by the story, even though I had guessed the ending fairly early. I believe this one may grow on me more as I ruminate over it. Overall, another good book by a really good author!

Am now reading the Thunderstorm LE of Chad Lutzke's "How the Skin Sheds", a first time read and a part of the Splatter Western series of books.

[sholloman81]

Just finished reading the Thunderstorm LE of Michael Laimo's "Missed Connection". Went into this one blind and it knocked my socks off! Much better than I remember any of Laimo's early work being. This one had so many twists and turns, real feeling characters, and a truly killer ending! Hope this is a return to more regular publishing for the author. So happy that I took a chance on this one!

Am now reading the Thunderstorm LE of Ross Jeffrey's " Harvesting the Nightmare Fields". Enjoy this author a lot and am excited to see where this one goes!

[Ben Staad]

Started reading The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester. I'm not that far into it, it's not really my genre, but I think I like it so far. I'm a little confused on if I'm enjoying the story or just the writing style.

[RonClinton]

Keeping the Halloween season reading going with Bernard Taylor's THIS IS MIDNIGHT. Originally published by Centipede, and later by Valancourt, this collection represents all of Taylor's short fiction. Taylor has a very readable style, and I'm just blowing through the stories. Very enjoyable, so far.

I really enjoy Taylor's work. I wasn't quite as taken with his short work in this collection as his full-length novels, but as you say, there's a readability to his fiction that really immerses the reader and makes it very enjoyable. I was glad to see his work get the nod by Centipede...it certainly deserves it.

[dannyboy121070]

Keeping the Halloween season reading going with Bernard Taylor's THIS IS MIDNIGHT. Originally published by Centipede, and later by Valancourt, this collection represents all of Taylor's short fiction. Taylor has a very readable style, and I'm just blowing through the stories. Very enjoyable, so far.

[sholloman81]

Just finished reading the Thunderstorm LE of John Durgin's "The Devil's in the Next Room", a first-time read and a first-time author for me. I really enjoyed this one. It felt like the author tossed Of Mice of Men, Misery, & Dr. Sleep into a blender and gave us this book. Will definitely check out more from this author in the future!

Am now reading the Thunderstorm LE of Michael Laimo's "Missed Connection". Has been ages since I've read anything by this author and am going into this one blind. Hope it's good!

[Chuggers]

Finally ripped the plastic off my copy of Feesters In The Lake by Bob Leeman. I know it goes without saying, but every time i open a book by Centipede Press I'm instantly filled with that feeling of wonder and excitement I felt growing up, discovering these genre titles for the first time. Alwaysa a completely mind blowing experience

[RonClinton]

Very glad to hear that White Pines was a good read! I have an LE copy sitting in my TBR pile that Paul at Thunderstorm sent me to make up for a printing issue with a previous book.

In terms of The End of the World As We Know It, I haven't read it yet. Have been trying to hold out until the LE is announced as I'm trying not to buy duplicate copies of books any longer. It has been getting good reviews, but I'm trying not to get my expectations too high as, much like yourself, the last few anthologies that I have read/[purchased have been very underwhelming. In fact, one of the ones that I was most recently disappointed by was the recent Drive-In Multiplex edited by Brian Keene & Christopher Golden. Since they are also the editors of The End of the World As We Know It, I'm a tad worried. But since The Stand is one of my all time favorite novels, I'm sure that I'll still do everything that I can to place a pre-order for the LE once it has been announced.

Exactly my thoughts as well, except for THE DRIVE IN: MULTIPLEX, which while I have the S/L, I haven't actually read it yet...lukewarm reviews really tempered the buzz I had about it, and I haven't circled back on it yet. But I will.

[sholloman81]

Finished up White Pines by Gemma Amor.

After a slow start and a really strange middle, I ended up really liking this story.

I think the folk horror aspects worked better than the cosmic horror,
but everything came together enough for a satisfying conclusion.

I will definitely read more from Amor in the future.

Up next, The End of the World As We Know It.

So will it live up to the hype as one of the most anticipated books of the year, or end up in the dumpster fire that’s been most of the anthologies I’ve read over the last couple of years?

B

Very glad to hear that White Pines was a good read! I have an LE copy sitting in my TBR pile that Paul at Thunderstorm sent me to make up for a printing issue with a previous book.

In terms of The End of the World As We Know It, I haven't read it yet. Have been trying to hold out until the LE is announced as I'm trying not to buy duplicate copies of books any longer. It has been getting good reviews, but I'm trying not to get my expectations too high as, much like yourself, the last few anthologies that I have read/[purchased have been very underwhelming. In fact, one of the ones that I was most recently disappointed by was the recent Drive-In Multiplex edited by Brian Keene & Christopher Golden. Since they are also the editors of The End of the World As We Know It, I'm a tad worried. But since The Stand is one of my all time favorite novels, I'm sure that I'll still do everything that I can to place a pre-order for the LE once it has been announced.

[RonClinton]

Currently reading THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MATTHEW SCUDDER (Sub Press S/L HC)...a fictionalized non-fiction biography that is penned as an autobiography. While that description can make one's head hurt, the actual book is a true pleasure, as I'd expect from Lawrence Block, who is one of my favorite crime authors.