MAIMSTREAM Comet Press 224 pages
She came back to life… now she wishes she was dead. Scarla Fragran sacrificed her life for a mission that was rigged to fail. Being betrayed by the very people she thought she could trust was nothing compared to the revolt of her own mind and body. When the worst menace comes from within, death can seem the noblest option..but only if you stay dead. Inexplicably awake in a world she thought she’d left behind,Scarla struggles to regain her senses to remember who-and what-she is.
Once she embarks on the perilous journey to retrace her steps and find out why she died, she comes face-to face a new world of horrors including-murderous long haulers, a menacing neo-Nazi motorcycle club, treacherous rebel newsman,a sea of salacious and unspeakable shapeshifters, and the beast that lurks within her own DNA-just to stay alive…
Let’s step away from the emphasis I’ve put on the graphic images of Maimstream for a moment. The story was solid. The characters complex. The dialogue raw and well suited. No, this story is not for the faint of heart. It’s scary. And monsters? Maimstream has monsters. Vicious, blood thirsty, often grotesque looking killers. They crawl, swim, and fly. Oh, and the worst ones walk. So no, no warm and fuzzy make you feel good, characters in this novel! And while some readers may be turned off by the constant violence, to use a cliche, I believe it was a necessary evil.
Since this was my first experience with BC Furtney’s work, I will say I was impressed with his creative abilities. I found myself in the first few chapters feeling sorry and emotionally connected with Scarla’s plight. But more importantly, I was highly entertained as the story unfolded. In the end, I was pleasantly surprised. I read the last page with a certain eagerness as I look forward to BC Furtney’s next novel.
Having said that, I strongly recommend Maimstream for any horror reader. If you like your horror fiction dark, twisted, and with teeth that will take hold and not let go, Maimstream is for you.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
BC Furtney wrote and directed the feature noir thriller, Do Not Disturb, as well as the award- winning short films,
Mister Eryams and Disposer, among others. He’s written and/or ghostwritten several screenplays and erotica novels
that are not suited for the whole family, but perfect for your ex-con uncle, drunken aunt, or inappropriate stepmother.
His debut novel, Scarla, is available from Comet Press and there’s more where that came from.
256 pages
Published by Journalstone 2012
In 1779, a preacher by the name of Nathaniel Randolph, pacified a
group of sinners in a brothel by burning it to the ground. In 1847 the
flames came again. This time, they were used to cleanse doctor
Charles Effram’s medical clinic which was treating lepers. In 1922,
below Wood Hill Sanitarium amid a maze of dark, damp tunnels ripe
with the stench of death, doctor Grover Lillian and his assistant
Hilary White, tried to escape a manhunt. Soon, two more lives
would come to a tragic end in Rocky Point.
To say the least, Rocky Point has a horrifying past. It’s currently the
home of The Gates Of Heaven which is the oldest cemetery in Rocky Point. It’s also
home to the former Wood Hill Sanitarium where men, women, and thirty-seven children
secretly died in the name of ”medical science”.
Now, four friends who have dubbed themselves the Cemetery Club, have taken it upon themselves to try and stop
the demons they’ve named the Shadow People.
Led by Todd Randolph, who believes he’s the only one who can stop the Shadow People, the group heads into a century old
mausoleum and into the pit where they believe the Shadow people lurk.
Faherty’s description of these creatures is quite detailed. They have the ability to possess the living and commit unspeakable
acts of violence.When the possessed go on their murderous rampages, it’s not long before Rocky Point is engulfed in turmoil.
The Cemetery Club maintains a steady pace and pauses just long enough for the reader to appreciate the characters
struggles in coping with the Shadow People.
Speaking of characters, JG Faherty’s are well developed. The Cemetery Club’s Todd Randolph, Cory Miles, John Boyd,
and Marisol Flores have the right blend of personalities.
With the history of their family’s sorted past (and their own), it helps to enrich the plot. It’s been several
years since The Cemetery Club have interacted with each other, so after the initial awkwardness, bonds reform and believe it or
not, a long overdue romance blossoms.
JG Faherty seamlessly brought all of these elements together for his characters. His dialogue is well suited for each character
which really brings them to life. And while it would be difficult to chose which character is the most important,
I wanted to see them all victorious.
But alas, that doesn’t happen.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed The Cemetery Club. It has the right blend of evil, zombies, drama and suspense. If
you haven’t read JG Faherty’s The Cemetery Club, put it on your list.
It starts in a laboratory. A man-made strain of flesh-eating virus. Created by a power-hungry cartel. Capable of turning victims into brain-dead carnivores. Smuggled aboard a cruise ship that’s about to set sail…One by one, the passengers are exposed. A U.S. senator. A young couple. An undercover agent. A beautiful assassin. Some will be infected. Others will survive. But no one will be spared if the outbreak isn’t contained – and the dead outnumber the living…Enter Delta Force operative Juan Perez. He’s fought the deadliest killers in the darkest hellholes on earth. But he’s never seen anything like this – an apocalyptic cargo of pure zombie mayhem heading for the coast. If Perez and his SEAL team can’t stop it, America, and quickly the entire population of the world, are finished. The plague years will begin.
**Spoiler Alert**
Joe McKinney gives a twisted meaning to the words pleasure cruise!
What would you do if you found yourself trapped on a disabled cruise ship infested with zombies? Panic comes to mind. But what if your job responsibilities included saving a VIP? Or you found yourself trying to rescue a group of terrified children? What then?
Once again, Joe McKinney has put us, his readers, smack dab in the middle of a terrifying zombie apocalypse. Unlike traditional zombie stories which usually revolve around an accidental creation and release of a pathogen, The Savage Dead set sail in a different direction. Seeking to assassinate a U.S senator, a Mexican drug cartel has purposely invented and released a hybrid bacteria aboard a cruise ship. Showing no mercy, the bacteria seeks out it’s intended target infecting everyone in it’s path. For those who do survive, they’ll have to fight for their lives and cling on to the fleeting chances they’ll be rescued. Continue reading “The Savage Dead book review” »
From Entertainment Weekly, comes the latest novel on the Walking Dead Trilogy by Robert Kirkman.
The third installment in Robert Kirkman and Joy Bonansinga’s Walking Dead trilogy of novels will be released in October by Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin’s Press. Following The Rise of the Governor and The Road to Woodbury, the new book would appear to document the Governor’s fatal final assault on Rick Grimes and Co. — at least that’s what the hulking background shot of the prison and broken-off eye patch on the cover image would have you believe. As would the news that characters like Rick, Glenn, and Michonne will indeed make appearances in the book. Will the novel go so far as to change the outcome of the comic or — more likely — will it fill in the blanks on stuff we have yet to learn and see?
When Mr. McKinney sent me Inheritance for review, I wasn’t surprised when I was hooked within the first chapter. Yes, I’ll admit I love a good ghost story. But to call this a “ghost” story is an understatement. Inheritance is so much more. This is classic Joe McKinney. Once you start reading, good luck at putting the book down!
Paul Henninger was on his way to becoming a great football player. Maybe even turn pro someday. But his father had other plans for his life. Dark, evil plans.
Now, six years later, Paul’s dreams of playing ball have vanished and he finds himself working for the San Antonio police department and married to a wonderful woman. His responsibilities as a police officer are difficult enough without being plagued by an inheritance his late father left him. But that’s exactly what Paul Henninger is subjected too. It’s a power he doesn’t understand. A power he doesn’t want. But there’s more. Paul cannot simply walk away from this. His father won’t let him.
Then the visions start. Visions of Paul’s past and of things to come. Horrible, terrifying visions and the grim reality that he’s about to lose everything!
Now, it would be easy to release spoilers, but I won’t. Below the press release from Evil Jester says a mouthful.(click on pic to enlarge) Inheritance comes out November 5th. Be sure to reserve your copy on Amazon!
With the unique angle of this novel coming from a police procedural standpoint, the characters immediately come to life. They’re more than believable especially if you’ve ever worked in the field of public safety. Mr. McKinney’s expertise as a police officer and homicide detective give the novel a huge dose of reality and the essence of what it ‘s like to work as a police officer. No glitz and glam here folks. Bravo Joe!
Then we have the other pieces to the puzzle in this ghostly tale. Inheritance is full of suspense. The torment of a boy which continues into manhood, the jeopardy of Paul’s career, his dead father who returns to remind Paul of his inheritance responsibilities and Paul’s wife who’s caught in the middle. Action? Oh yes! Inheritance has plenty of that!
There’s an old adage “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” In the case of Inheritance, that might not be true!
In a word, a superior, well crafted novel and a great read. It’s everything we’ve come to expect from Joe McKinney. I hope you enjoy it a s much as I did!
The legendary horror novelist John Farris who’s writing career has spanned over 50 years and inspired countless writers, will have some of his titles released on e book from Crossroad publishers. Unearthly which was retitled from the Uninvited, is the first one currently available on Amazon. By the end of the month other novels including The Fury which was adapted to a movie in 1978 will be released. Enjoy the super cool cover art for the novels then download your copy today!
In a post apocalyptic world filled with the undead, the last thing Sadie Walker needs in her “normal” life is more drama. But that’s exactly what she gets from her boyfriend and a group of scumbags that kidnap her 8 year old nephew Shane. To add insult to injury, they bring down the barriers that keep her home town of Seattle safe.
Now she’s in a race against time. She must find Shane. She must flee Seattle on a crowded sail boat of strangers and survive the grueling journey to an island she’s told, maybe safe from the undead. And that’s just the beginning.
This was my first experience with Madeleine Roux’s novels. Having read countless zombie stories, I found this one quite refreshing.
I always enjoy a zombie novel where a female lead character is driven to become more than they thought possible either through physical or psychological challenges. In Sadie Walker Is Stranded our main protagonist Sadie, gets a rude awakening from the onset. The reader immediately appreciates the seriousness of her situation (especially if your a parent ) as the story quickly unfolds. Its the fear of losing a child that touches the core of our deepest ,darkest , nightmares.
The rest of the novel moves at a good pace and builds the suspense never letting up even when you think you’ve hit a lull. There’s also plenty of zombie killing…. by both sides…. and a mistrust among the merging groups that someone is attempting to “thin” out the ranks even further. While I’m on the subject of zombie killing, I thought it was quite amusing albeit a serious concern that the zombies in this story had adapted to the water. Continue reading “Sadie Walker Is Stranded review” »
To begin, let me share my experience in meeting this AWESOME writer. I first met him at the 2011 WHC convention in Austin, Texas. He had a huge responsibility as a co-chair organizing the event. Although it was my first WHC, I’m proud to say his efforts helped make it a huge success. I also noticed that we went to the same barber…but I digress. I had heard the name Nate Southard from Brian Keene and others, but had never read any of his work. I immediately corrected that oversight! I discovered his talents with one of his novellas titled A Trip to Rundberg which evolved into the novel Scavengers. If you haven’t read it you should. Today, I’ve tracked him down, pinned him against the wall and threatened him with the Ninja death touch if he didn’t share his accomplishments with us!
Here at deadburiedandback.com we go for the jugular! (and if you believe that I’ve got a Ponzi scheme for you to invest in) No, actually he graciously took time out of his busy schedule to do this interview so enjoy!
JF: Nate it’s great to finally catch up with you. How have you been?
NS: Great to be here. It’s an interesting time. I’m coming off a three-year streak that’s been amazing from a professional standpoint and horrible from a personal one. Right now, I’m trying to build myself back up. I want to attack 2012 with everything I have, so I need to get my mind right, for a change. Other than that, it’s a pretty typical Monday.
JF: Nate why’d you choose the horror genre?
NS: I’m not sure I’d say I ‘chose’ the horror genre. Don’t worry. I’m not going to say something lame like, “It chose me!” I just always loved a certain kind of story, and those happened to be the scary ones. Eventually, I wanted to write my own stories, so of course I started writing the sorts of things I loved reading. From there, it was just a matter of strengthening my chops and developing my style. The sad truth is that I’m never going to be as good as I want to be, but that’s a truth just about every writer worth their salt needs to face. You can always get better.
JF: What publishing company gave you your first break?
NS: Thunderstorm Books, without a doubt. I suppose I could go back a little and say Michael McBride. I’ve had a lot of help from some great writers and friends over the years, but Michael’s the guy who first read Just Like Hell and then gave it to Paul at Thunderstorm to read. Paul liked it, but suggested a few changes. I went through and saw what I felt worked and what didn’t, and he offered me a contract. I can’t thank Michael enough for recommending me, and I can’t thank Paul enough for taking a chance on an unknown and giving me my first book.
JF: So for those who aren’t familiar with your work what should they read first?
NS: I’d say it depends on your preferences. If you’re in the mood for something brutal, I’d recommend Just Like Hell. It’s one of the best things I’ve ever written certainly the most important in terms of theme and message but it’s not something you should read while eating. For something fun but less nasty, I’d go with This Little Light of Mine, a fun little monster story which Burning Effigy released as a chapbook and just entered its second print run. If you want something longer and don’t mind zombies, grab yourself a copy of Scavengers. It’s a thrill ride with that ‘carrion in the sun’ scent!
JF: Every author has his/her favorites. Which ones were the most fun to write?
NS: I think I enjoyed writing Lights Out the most. It’s always fun to take a good set of characters and put them through the ringer, and Lights Out has some of my favorite characters ever. I can’t wait for folks to meet people like Anton Ribisi, Maggot, Diggs, Tree, Sweeny, and Ramirez. They’re all some wonderfully terrible people.
JF: Zombies! Zombies! Zombies! Everyone’s on the zombie train! For writers is this a one way ride Nate? Do you think the zombie trend will derail sometime in the future?
NS: I’m not sure it’s going to derail, but I do think it’s going to change. Hell, it is changing. For a long time, a lot of the zombie novels out there were just action romps, most of them with a bit of ‘Man is the real monster’ philosophy thrown in. Some of your big guns The Rising and World War Z, for instance did something better with it, but most of the zombie books I see are excuses for a high body count and little more. Scavengers is an action movie with a little ‘Hey, maybe mankind deserves a shot’ in the mix. It’s a fun book, but I won’t claim it will change lives or anything. That said, we’re now starting to see writers do new things with zombies, and it’s a great thing to see. Alden Bell wrote a literary zombie novel with The Reapers Are the Angels, and it’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever read. Dan Waters’ zombie young adult novels are loads of fun. There are other things out there we can do with zombies. We just have to discover them.
JF: Ok, onto current events. Tell us about LIGHTS OUT. What motivated you to write it and how did you put a different twist on vampire theme?
NS: Lights Out is what happens when vampires attack a maximum security prison. I wanted to tell a story where vampires were monsters again, just these terrible, feral things. They eat, and they destroy. There’s nothing else on their social agenda. Now, they’re monsters fighting a building for of murderers and other criminals. I’m a big fan of OZ, which I think is one of the best television series in history (well, at least the first three seasons). I love the idea of all these horrible criminals finding their own levels of humanity, and I thought that idea was a fun backdrop for a monster story. Most of society would consider the characters in Lights Out monsters, but if you throw something even darker at the audience, all these fun shades of gray start appearing.
JF: Alright, here we go. You knew this one was coming Nate. I need your take on self publishing. For a novice writer is this bad ju- ju?
NS: Aw, hell. I really don’t know, anymore. For a long time, I was all for self-publishing, but that’s because I was trying to break into comics. Whenever I talked to an editor for Marvel or DC or Dark Horse, their answer was always, “Publish your own stuff so we know you’re serious.” For the longest time, that didn’t work for prose. In fact, the opposite was true. You avoided self-publishing in order to show how serious you were. Now? Everything’s changing, and nobody even knows which way is up. I’m not personally interested in self-publishing, because I don’t want to do all the work. And really, if you’re not going to it everything you’ve got, make sure you have a pro-looking cover and hire an editor to go over everything (and then there’s everything else that goes into book design, etcetera…), then I just don’t see the point. Sure, it’s worked for some people, but those cases are so few that all the folks running after them might as well have said, “Hey, that Leonardo Dicaprio did well for himself. I’ll act, too!” I just really wish all the people preaching one method or the other like it’s the means to literary salvation would shut up. There are shades of gray everywhere, folks.
JF: last question Nate. Conventions. Where will Nate Southard be in 2012 so we can meet you and buy SEVERAL copies of your books?
NS: I’m still trying to sort out my 2012 con schedule. I know I’ll be a guest of honor at Mo*Con, May 4-6 in Indianapolis. (http://www.mocon.indianahorror.org/) After that, I’m not sure. It’s possible I’ll decide to hit World Horror or Killer Con, but I just won’t know for a while, yet.
JF: Nate thanks for sitting down with me and doing the interview. I wish you all the best with Lights Out and look forward to seeing you in the future. Be well my friend!
NS: Thanks, man. It’s been a good time!
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Jonathan Maberry’s Dead of Night will be released Oct.25th. I had the great opportunity to preview it and WOW! Here’s the premiss: A condemned serial killer is injected with a virus by the prisons Dr. to keep him conscious while his body rots in the grave. However all drugs have side effects. Before he’s buried he awakes unleashing a deadly virus contaminating an entire town. Now he can finish the work he started in life….now he’s unstoppable. This is the way the world ends. Not with a bang…but a bite..
Dead of Night is the type of novel which gets you thinking. It’s billed as a stand alone novel, but like many of Mr. Maberry’s stories he opens the door for a sequel. Through countless hours of research Jonathan Maberry has carefully crafted a zombie novel which may not be that far of a stretch from reality. The story has several conflicts including the military and police at odds with each other, the Federal government trying to take the quick and easy way out, and the fact an uncontrollable virus is quickly wiping Stebbins county PA off the map. Continue reading “Dead of Night review” »
Hardcover 519 pages from Simon & Schuster
Benny Imura and Nix Riley can’t forget the jet they saw fly over the zombie-infested mountains of the Rot and Ruin.
The Jet meant leaving,
something that Nix and Benny were going to do. Now after months of rigorous training with Tom, Benny’s zombie-hunter brother, Benny, Nix, Lilah the lost girl and Chong are ready to leave their home forever and search for a better future.
But, from the start, everything goes wrong. They are pursued by the living dead,wild animals and insane murders, and are faced with the horrors of a rebuilt Gameland,where teenagers are forced to fight for their lives n the zombie pits. worst of all…could the evil Charlie Pink-eye sill be alive?
Usually when one loses sleep he/she awakes the next morning in shall we say, a non energetic or positive mood? I woke in a great mood! Why? because the source of my sleep deprivation came from Dust & Decay! Continue reading “DUST & DECAY Review!” »
