[New Stuff] What you see here is a sampling of what I've been enjoying lately. Most of it is newly-released material, but there'll be the occasional classic that I'm just in the mood for as well.

 Fiction @ Chapters.ca
SUMMER NEW RELEASES:
The Crow - Hellbound by A. A. Attanasio
The House in the High Woods by Jeffrey E. Barlough
The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh by Greg Cox
Hammerfall by C. J. Cherryh
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Ravenheart by David Gemmell
Unseen Book 2 - Door to Alternity by Nancy Holder & Jeff Mariotte
Lt's Theory of Pets by Stephen King
Burning Brightly by Mercedes Lackey
Wild Cards by George R.R. Martin
Illumination by Terry McGarry
Deep Fathom by James Rollins
The Ghost Sister by Liz Williams

FALL RELEASES TO LOOK FORWARD TO:

  • The next installment in the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series:
    Narcissus in Chains by Laurell K. Hamilton

  • The sequel to The Talisman:
    Black House by Stephen King & Peter Straub

  • The sequel to The Hunger:
    The Last Vampire by Whitley Strieber


    • [IMAGE] Gary Numan - Pure: Building upon the darker, more industrial sound of Exile, Numan continues to amaze with the sheer talent and range of his work. Musically, the instrumentals are second to none, while the lyrics are some of the darkest, sharpest, most intelligent I've heard on an album in years. Just listen to the back-to-back tracks "My Jesus" and "Listen to My Voice" and you'll be hooked for good.

    [IMAGE] The Dreamthief's Daughter by Michael Moorcock
    : Elric of Melnibone, THE eternal champion, is back! Need I say more?

    [IMAGE] Cradle of Filth - Midian : A black metal staple for years, Cradle has finally released an album to make the music world take notice. Basing the album loosely on the works of Clive Barker (esp. Cabal/Nightbreed), they've even managed to bring in Doug Bradley (Hellraiser's Pinhead) to do some outstanding voice overs. Favourite tracks would have to include Saffron's Curse, Death Magick for Adepts, Her Ghost in the Fog, and Tortured Soul Asylum.

    [IMAGE] Walking With Dinosaurs

    If you didn't catch this incredible special on Discovery earlier this month, then you've really missed something. Blending fact and speculation with computer-generated effects that put Jurassic Park to shame, this is the ultimate nature documentary. Each of the six episodes focuses upon either an Era or a Species, giving us a glimpse into the world of the dinosaur. Personally, my favourite sequences were those dealing with the immense carnivores, the amphibious creatures, and (one of the most glaring omissions from Jurassic Part) the pterodactyls. BTW, the video has an extra 15min of footage deemed too violent for TV -- including attacks, mating, and cannibalism.

    You might also want to check out the companion book as well as the greatest dinosaur story ever told, Robert Bakker's Raptor Red.

    [IMAGE] Reave the Just by Stephen R Donaldson
    After a disappointing foray into hard SF with the 'Gap' cycle, Donaldson returns to the genre that launched his career. Strangely, the title story is the weakest of the collection, but only because the competition is so intense. Actually, there are 2 stories alone I think are worth the price of the book. 'The Djinn Who Watches Over the Accursed' is a cruel, twisted, sadistic little tale that keeps setting the reader up for a great moral revelation, then laughs in your face -- I loved it! On first glance, I was tempted to skip past 'Penance' (do we really need another repentant vampire tale?), but Donaldson manages to take fresh approach to the concept and succeeds beautifully.

    [IMAGE] The Annotated Dragonlance Chronicles by Margaret Weiss & Tracy Hickman
    While I wouldn't recommend this edition to first-time readers, it is a definite must for any fan of the series. Featuring notes and observations from Weiss & Hickman (the authors), Michael Williams (their poet), Jeff Grubb (game designer), and others, it makes for a fascinating read. Not only are we allowed a rare glimpse into the creation of an epic saga, but we also get to share the simultaneous development of the AD&D gaming structure. Highly Recommended!

    [IMAGE] Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Immortal by Christopher Golden & Nancy Holder
    The first Buffy hardcover. The few people I've talked to who snagged advance copies say it's not just a great Buffy story, it's also a damned fine vampire novel. The basic premise is that a vampire sorceress has arrived in Sunnydale, possessing the ability to transfer her demonic soul from host to host. Each time she's killed, she just learns more about her opponent -- Buffy. My copy is in the mail as we speak, so I'll add a review as soon as I'm finished with it.

    [IMAGE] Type O Negative - World Coming Down: While their latest offering still can't come close to matching Bloody Kisses, it's a definite improvement over October Rust. Definitely worth picking up for any fan of industrial goth.

    [IMAGE] Necroscope: Invaders by Brian Lumley
    When I first heard that Lumley was producing another Necroscope saga, I pretty much cringed. He really seemed to be milking the saga with the 'Lost Years' duology, and I'd hoped that would be it. Fortunately, this latest saga is good news for all Necroscope fans: Lumley has promised it'll be the final chapter, and we're going out with a bang! Our story picks up several years after the 'Vampire World' trilogy, with the legendary members of E-Branch facing a new Wamphyri threat. Our hero this time around is Jake Cutter -- a dark, brooding, vengeful protagonist with a strange link to the Necroscope. To say anything more would mean giving away a ton of spoilers, so I'll leave it there. Trust me, though, this is a great start to the final chapter of the Necroscope.


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    All material on this page Copyright © 2000 Bob R. Milne