The Dr. Strikes Again

DYING TO LIVE: LIFE SENTENCE by Kim Paffenroth (2008 Permuted Press / 210 pp. / tp)

After the author’s impressive debut novel, DYING TO LIVE, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on its sequel (but was prevented from getting to it sooner due to my ever expanding TBR pile).

LIFE SENTENCE picks up 12 years after the events of DTL. This time our survivors have cleared and fenced themselves into a large area just outside of a major city. The groups’ spiritual leader, Milton, continues to use his supernatural gift to horde the undead into holding bins; the aggressive ones go to one area, the seemingly less aggressive to another. When Milton’s protégé, Will, notices two zombies in the latter area behaving almost like “normal” humans, he soon befriends them.

Most of the novel is told from one of the intelligent zombies’ viewpoint (we discover his name is Wade Truman, a former college professor who is slowly trying to remember his past life, and whose notes we’re now reading). He meets an undead woman named Lucy, and together they spend their days and nights writing, reading, and playing the violin (but trust me . . . this isn’t funny or cheesy in the least; Paffenroth truly develops his zombies as much as his human characters).

The second storyline the novel follows is Zoey, a teenage outcast who agrees to take her “vows” to the community. She’s as deadly with a gun as she is with her wit, and eventually Will and her situations meet for a finale that’s exciting, scary, and best of all, a HUGE cut above your standard zombie fare.

Paffenroth continues to explore zombies from a philosophical angle, this time bringing out the humanity of his two intelligent monsters: neither of them want to eat the living, despite it being a newfound instinct. The self-control displayed by Wade could have been a quick rip-off of “Bub” from Romero’s DAY OF THE DEAD, but being this is a novel, we get to see what’s going on inside this unique zombies’ mind, and its more caring and understanding than most of the human survivors. (Speaking of DAY, there’s one group of sleaze balls who try to ruin the party before human and zombie team up to stop them; their leader’s name is Rhodes, which I’m sure is in tribute to Romero).

My only gripe is I wanted to see more of the work done by Milton, who was the driving force behind the first novel. Hopefully, if Paffenroth returns with another DYING TO LIVE, he’ll go there.

Any horror fan will enjoy LIFE SENTENCE, especially those with a thing for zombies. The author’s unique perspective on a post-apocalyptic, undead world puts this—like its predecessor—in its own league.

Barker's "Mini-Epic"

THE ADVENTURES OF MR. MAXIMILLIAN BACCHUS AND HIS TRAVELING CIRCUS by Clive Barker (2009 Bad Moon Books / 90 pp. / tp)

This one's a best bet for fantasy fans who don't have the time or desire to slug it through a 1,200-page novel; Barker's "mini-epic" will satisfy your hunger in just 90 pages of filler-free fun.

Mr. Bacchus assembles an amazing troupe of performers and hits the road. His ultimate quest is the legendary city of Xanadu, which they finally reach in the fourth section of this tale. Among the memorable characters here are Malachi, an opera-singing crocodile, and an amazing juggling clown named Domingo de Y Barrondo, who adds a magical element to Barker's myth-like world.

Being this is a short novella, there's really not much to say without ruining anything . . . although I can tell you section three's troll-attack near the edge of the world is writtin in Barker's classic nail-biting suspense style.

TAOMMBAHTC is a lot of fun, and can be read by people of all ages (I'm not sure if this is Bad Moon Books' first YA title or not). While I miss Barker the horrorking, I'll keep reading his fantasies so long as they're as well done as this one. On a down note, this is limited to 1500 copies, and the hefty $50.00 cover price will probably scare most people away. See www.badmoonbooks.com for more details.

Now THIS is a HORROR collection

DARK RIDE by Michael Laimo (2008 Borderlands Press / 281 pp. / hc)

Since reading his novel DEEP IN THE DARKNESS back in 2004, I've become quite a fan of Michael Laimo. His 4 other 'Leisure' novels were solid reads, and his two stories in John Pelan's "Darkside" anthologies were a highlight of each edition.

Having not read many of Michael's shorts, I was confident that DARK RIDE would deliver the goods . . . and it surely does.

While most of the 23 tales collected here are pure-horror, I really enjoyed the 2 surreal/bizarro tales here ('Snakes' and 'I Exude in Partials') as well as his Sopranos-inspired 'Partners in Crime.' Each of these stories hold their own within their perspective genres, yet still carry the author's own voice.

But it's the horror entries here that truly shine: Laimo breathes new life into some classic horror creatures (zombies, vampires, giant animals gone wild) and delivers a wonderful homage to Lovecraft (titled 'The Startling Supplements to Brion Heloise's Depictions,' this tale--appearing here for the first time--is one of my favorites of the collection).

Other highlights include a great old-school monster yarn, 'Raingods Dancing,' two punks being taught a lesson by sinister jack-o-lanterns in 'Night of the Rage,' and a clever take on a zombie apocalypse in 'Last Resort.'

Mike once told me that he wasn't too big on humorous horror, but he does a fine job of it in 'Aftermath,' another zombie-themed tale that's nothing like the aforementioned 'Last Resort.'

This is the type of anthology that reads like a classic issue of EERIE or CREEPY magazine, albeit with much better storylines. Laimo's DARK RIDE is horror that's all heart, no BS, and perhaps most importantly, never dull.

What more could a horror fan want?

A Bizarro Tour-De-Force

SHARK HUNTING IN PARADISE GARDEN by Cameron Pierce (2008 Eraserhead Press / 112 pp. / tp)

Eraserhead Press continue to unleash talented bizarro authors and Cameron Pierce (with this debut novel) is no exception.

Members of a religious group known as Yahweh's Dawn travel via time machine back to the Garden of Eden. Chaos ensues as early as the first page when we learn the machine has been destroyed, stranding our group of misfit zealots in a Garden none of them could've ever imagined: instead of peaceful animals and calm rivers, they're attacked by flying sharks (of all types) and laser-firing robots. While trying to dodge these obstacles and find Adam and Eve, they enter the Tree of Knowledge--and this is when things REALLY start to get weird.

SHARK HUNTING IN PARADISE GARDEN is a bizarro tour-de-force, loaded with amazing characters (with really obscure powers, weapons and abilites), unimaginable villians, and countless, demetned ideas that probably haven't occured to most people (and at times, that's a good thing!). A massive battle between thousands of flying sharks, a robot army, and the surviving members of Yahweh's Dawn has to be one of the wildest brawls I've read in years.

I'm not sure if non-bizarro fans will get into this, as it's about as bizarro as bizarro gets--but those who follow this growing subgenre are in for a real treat.

Hill's Mini-Epic

GUNPOWDER by Joe Hill (2008 PS Publishing / 81 pp / hc)

Seven bio-engineered children (each with special powers) live on a desert planet. Their mission is to create an enviornment capable of growing food. Hope sparks when young Jake manages to create the planet's first field of grass---although it's razor-sharp texture is not to be touched.

The children develop their powers overseen by the fully-human adult Elaine, who has been stationed here with this unique group. The children are so close that they refer to her as "mom." After several years on "Gunpowder" (the name the children have given to their dusty planet), Officer Jackson (who has been sent to replace Elaine) arrives and informs the children that (not only) will they now be using their powers to create advanced military weapons, but that she'll be replacing Elaine.

What follows in this brief scifi novella is a study of adoption, motherhood, siblings and how mankind's own creations can sometimes be more human than themselves.

Joe Hill fans are sure to enjoy this, despite it being a departure from the ghost stories that put him on the map. PS Publishing--as usual--has done a beautiful job with slick wrap-around cover art by Vincent Chong and paper of the highest quality, i.e. collectors will want this.

A MUST Read

DISQUIET by Julia Leigh (2008 Penguin / 121 pp. / trade paperback-ish looking)

Although only 121 pages, this expertly-written novella is one of the finest tales I've read in 2008.After digesting it for over a month, and re-reading it again today, I can say Julia Leigh's DISQUIET is must reading for anyone who takes writing seriously, or for readers who want to see how BIG a story can be by keeping details to a bare minimum.

While basically a gothic family saga, DISQUIET's unusual views on misplaced motherhood, dark relationships and depression despite wealth had me from the first page and didn't let up until its haunting finale.

Leigh makes simple acts such as drinking tea, losing a doll, and even stares between her characters take on nerve-inducing dimensions that will cause even the most seasoned writer or reader of dark tales to take note.

Perhaps DISQUIET will also inspire more mainstream publishers to take notice of the power of a good novella.

Don't miss this.