Women Writers

The Laughing Corpse

by Laurell K. Hamilton

Bookstores sheives are now packed with great female writers in the genre of horror / fantasy / science fiction / mystery thrillers. In your local Barnes & Noble and Borders you'll likely see Charlaine Harris (Sookie Stackhouse series), Laurell K. Hamilton (Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series), Kim Harrison (Rachel Morgan series), and Kelly Armstrong (Women of the Otherworld series). What's so great about these books, women are the heroines, so if you're a female reader you can relate to certain aspects of the novel. Personally, I'm a fan of Charlaine Harris' Sookie series, and I can't wait for book 6, Definitely Dead; it will be released 5/2/06.

Hamilton's book, The Laughing Corpse is the second book in her Anita Blake series. Anita an Animator, must solve a brutal murder streak, and she must also save herself from an over zealous want to be client who wants her to do the unthinkable act.

Hamilton's descriptions are phenomenal; she makes every murder scene lucid. She writes, "I poked the side of it with two fingers. It was like poking a side of fresh beef. A nice, solid feel to it. My fingers traced the bumps of bone, ribs under the flesh. Ribs. Suddenly I knew what I was looking at. Part of the rib cage of a human being. There was the shoulder, white bone sticking out where the arm had been torn away".

The Laughing Corpse is a good read for its well thought out plot, but is seemingly to convenient when it all comes together. It is highly descriptive, but not tedious. Lastly is should be read by any dark fantasy lover.

I highly recommend Bite edited by Laurell K. Hamilton. It's an awesome female heroine anthology written by women.

Horribly Funny

Bride of Trash

by Mike Segretto

Everyone seems to want love, but not everyone gets it. However, sometimes the most unlikely people find love, and in the most unlikely manner. Even though "Bride of Trash" pertains to love, it does not quite fall into the genre of romance, but can also be categorized into comedic horror / fantasy.

Mike Segretto's main character in "Bride of Trash is Whizzer" a junk shop proprieter who craves for companionship with benefits (if you know what I mean). When old Whizzer gets what his heart desires, it comes along with problems that are not easily remedied. Whizzer must conceal his necrophilism, and torn body parts that trail back to him.

Humor can be seen throughtout the novella. Whizzer is a brash old man, and word choice is key to segretto's style. If you're the type of person to get offended by crude language this book is not for you, but I feel this aspect is what gives the short piece character, and turnes Whizzer to life.

Bride of Trash is an interesting read, for its humor, and plot. Segretto definitely has a sense of humor, but never goes over the top. It doesn't feel silly, but has a nostagic feel for retro horror movies. Since, I grew up in the 80's it reminds me of Elvira the movie particular the lynch mob.

Brian Keene's Zombies

The Rising and The City of the Dead

by Brian Keene

There has been a zombie craze happening for a while, and Brian Keene's books have caused an upwelling in the genre. Even Stephen King has written a zombie novel subsequence to Keene. I bought and read Keene's two well known zombie books, "The Rising" and "The City of the Dead". The Rising is the 2003 Bram Stoker award winner for first novel, and it truly deserves the accolade.

When the living die they become the undead. They eat human flesh not only for the taste but to kill and recruit more fo their fellow undead. The zombies are articulate and abound; they are more then just zombies but demons. Jim Thurmond, a driven father must rescue his son before he becomes and undead too; he must travel and confront the undead, and on the way there he collides with other survivors of the living dead pandemic who become his companions. The sequel continues Jim Thurmonds adventure.

What I like about "The Rising" and "The City of the Dead" is that the characters are well developed and the story have a fast moving pace. There were twist and turns that made me feel like I was on a rollercoaster; I really couldn't foresee the drops. After reading both books, there is a feeling of completion.

If you like Brian Keene and live around New York or New Jersey, I saw in his site he is going to be at the below address on July 22, 2006.

Monmouth County Library Headquarters
125 Symmes Road
Manalapan, New Jersey
Speaking: Noon to 1pm (signing afterward) This GSHW event is open to the public.