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Book Review: Demons Among Us by W.E. Zazo-Phillips

Demons Among Us By W.E. Zazo-Phillips

K Studio,  2010

ISBN: 978-0984194520

Available: New

 

Demons Among Us is the first book in a trilogy. The story follows Elizabeth Townsend, a Coast Guard officer serving on the cutter Surveyor when the end of the world occurs.  What appears to be a virus has attacked a boy in Albany.  When a priest is called in by his mother, who fears it’s actually a demon possession, the demons infecting the boy discover they can move from person to person through blood.  They spread like wildfire and civilization is brought to the brink of extinction, with the infected running in packs like wild animals, killing everyone it their path.  Elizabeth and her crewmates are brought to a secure facility so they can contact any surviving family members and make preparations to be taken to the West.

 

Five years after the infection, Elizabeth is living in a commune in the desert.  Run by what’s left of the U.S. Military, the commune is one of many scattered throughout the Western United States. The communes are segregated according to gender, with the main job of the women being reproduction.  We discover that Elizabeth is a sensor—someone who can detect an infected person.  Unfortunately for her, there are people in the remaining government who wish to exploit that ability.  While at a major conference, Elizabeth discovers this plot to use her, and decides to go on the run.  Unknown to most of the people living in the communes, there are scattered communities of uninfected people living beyond the reach of the military.  What will Elizabeth find?

 

This is a brilliant story—demon possession that spreads like a virus.  It’s not overtly religious, but there are references to Christianity, with the communes being named after books of the Bible, and the Biblical quote “I am Legion…we are many”.  There are also people who can make holy water, which rids the demons from the body without killing the possessed.  The characters are well-developed and the story itself is well-written.  I also enjoyed the fact that our “hero” is a strong female.  There are a few mysteries left to be played out, which really holds my interest.  There are two other novellas to come, and I am looking forward to reading them.  Demons Among Us is quite the page-turner. Highly recommended.

Contains: adult language, cannibalism and sexual themes

Reviewed by Colleen Wanglund

Posted on September 21, 2018 by , Reply

Book Review: Experiments at 3 Billion A.M. by Alexander Zelenyj, illustrated by David Rix

Experiments at 3 Billion A.M. by Alexander Zelenyj

Eibonvale Press, 2009

ISBN: 978-0-9555268-5-5

Available: Hardcover (used), paperback (new and used)

    At first glance, the cover of Experiments at 3 Billion A.M. comes across as a science fiction story collection. For the most part it isn’t.  Instead it is a bizarre, surreal collection of forty short stories. Each story has its own illustration by David Rix. Mr. Zelenyj has an eloquent style of writing that gives each story a unique dark flavor and his vivid imagination bring the characters to life for the reader and takes them places they would never expect to go. Some of the stories pull on the heartstrings as they bring the reader close to the characters, but each story has its own dark place – some with brutal toothy malevolence while others are shadows full of emotional pain. The only complaint that the reader may have is that the eloquent wording at times slows some of the stories down. Experiments at 3 Billion A.M. is recommended for libraries looking for a story collection that is unique, dark and at times surreal.

Contains: Violence, Sex, Rape, Bestiality

Review by Bret Jordan

Posted on September 19, 2018 by , Reply

Book Review: Terror Is Our Business: Dana Roberts’ Casebook of Horror by Joe R. Lansdale and Kasey Lansdale

Terror Is Our Business: Dana Roberts’ Casebook of Horror by Joe R. Lansdale & Kasey Lansdale

Cutting Block Press, 2018

ISBN-13: 978-1732009004

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition

 

Now there are two Lansdales writing– watch out world! Joe’s readers know that the man branches out into whatever direction he wishes to, and most often, succeeds.

His daughter Kasey, a very talented singer/songwriter, brings a breath of fresh air with her as she joins her father in this collection, which defies simple categorization.

Dana and Jana are investigators of the “supernormal,” but very different in their approaches. Dana’s is reminiscent of Lovecraft and Holmes, while Jana is more of a Scully/Buffy character.

Dana (written by Joe) enters an old men’s club that will remind many of the Chowder Society (the group of fogies from Peter Straub’s Ghost Story), who sit back and entertain themselves with scintillating tales of the weird. She has been summoned to share her adventures, which she terms “supernormal,” since she believes everything under the sun can be explained– somehow. While she begins slowly and properly, her stories eventually become less restrained and more colorful.

Jana (penned by Kasey) kicks off the second half of the book. These accounts lighten the mood and leave the reader wanting more. By comparison, Joe’s stories feel almost stiff and forced, a possible homage to classic styles of Doyle, Lovecraft, and Machen. Jana is the Mulder to Dana’s Scully, more Kolchak than Holmes, and a great foil to Dana’s character.

Since Lansdale is notorious for falling for characters and having them reappear in subsequent books, we can hope to see Dana and Jana again. Recommended for any fan of good storytelling.

 

Posted on September 19, 2018 by , Reply
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