The Summer Reading List (The Edition You Won't See Anywhere Else)

I'm sick and tired of mainstream brick and mortar bookstores peddling the craptastic books that clutter the shelves.  Of course, when the calendar hits June and the mercury rises, these books become "must-reads" of Summer.  No they don't.  I've always wanted to do something about this trend, and here it is: The Summer Reading List...that you'll probably not see anywhere else.  I promise you no Dan Brown, Nicholas Sparks, Stephanie Meyers, or James Patterson.

Today, let's look at the Horror Edition.

HORROR:

6/15/2010 - Gina Ranalli, "House of Fallen Trees".  If you've never experienced Gina Ranalli, please do so.  She's got a wonderful voice for the horror genre (well, and the bizarro genre, which does crossover plenty).  In "House", much is made of a line of dialogue: "Two men have the carcass."  While much can be made of this, and has been in many a horror novel, this one rises above and beyond the genre's pariah.

"House of Fallen Trees" is released through Grindhouse Press and can be purchased by clicking the book cover.  At $10.04 on Amazon, currently, (reduced from $13.95) it's the perfect thing to round out your Summer Reading list.  Keep your eyes peeled for a Spotlight on Ms. Ranalli in the coming months.  But for now, if you're a fan of horror fiction, add this to your list.  Especially if you're like me and miss the classic haunted house tales, which seem to have faded from the shelves.

Available for Pre-Order Now - Anderson Prunty's "The Sorrow King".  I've not read all of Anderson Prunty's stuff, but from what I gather (based on what I've read) I love it.  The Sorrow King is currently available as a collector's, limited edition book.  If you're looking for a good read AND something that serves as a conversation piece, this is it.  Follow the link to pre-order the title: http://www.horror-mall.com/THE-SORROW-KING-by-Andersen-Prunty-Limited-Edition-p-19420.html.  Only 150 will be released.

King Scratch by Jordan Krall.  Jordan Krall is an acquired taste, I admit it.  But, if you've had the chance to read it, and you like it (think classic Elmore Leonard through twisted, jaundiced eyes), then you're going to dig the latest from Krall.  I'm not 100% finished with it, but already I'm loving it.  I was a little worried that Krall had gone soft in the first few pages.  The last paragraph of the Prologue proved me wrong.  Jump to Chapter One of the book, and you're immediately swept into the fray.  There's absolutely no way not to get involved in this.  Currently available, and at the low price of $12.95.  You can grab this and Gina's an be a couple of dollars away from free shipping.  Click on the picture to order.

Brian Keene's "A Gathering of Crows", released 7/27/2010.  It's hard to peg this Brian Keene release.  I've pre-ordered it and will read it.  And, no doubt, part of me will love every second of it.  Keene is like cliched pizza - when it's bad it's still pizza.  I've been disappointed with Keene's last couple of releases.  For some reason, I feel like he's not going for the hat trick here.  I really think he's going to spin this one around a bit.

I've got no clue on the plot (I try to stay plot free with the new releases from my favorite authors), but I'm hoping for a bird equivalent of the Conqueror Worms, which I felt was Brian Keene at his best!  Click on the picture to pre-order.


The Complete Drive-In by Joe R. Lansdale.  Anyone who is a fan of the Mojo Storyteller needs to go ahead and add this to their shopping cart immediately.  This is classic Lansdale, and it's all collected together right here.  I remember when the Drive-In stories began coming out.  I was fearful that I'd have to purchase the collectors editions or buy them individually.  Well, never fear, here they are.
Imagine if "Night of the Comet" were Southern deep fried and drizzled with syrup.  You've got a pretty good idea as to what to expect.

Lansdale truly is the most complete author I've ever read.  And I've always loved his horror fiction.

Murderland Part 1-8 by Garrett Cook.  Now, this is not new fiction, but it will be new for several of you.  Who the hell is Garrett Cook, you're probably asking yourself.  Well, this will be a new read and a new author for your collection.  Garrett Cook is the one spinning some great yarns that just aren't getting noticed (for sci-fi, cyber punk, try Archelon Ranch).  Murderland takes place in the not-too-distant future where serial killers are celebrities (think Natural Born Killers).  But Jeremy, the protagonist of "Murderland" makes Mickey and Mallory look like pussycats.  Plus Murderland earns extra horror points for tying in Lovecraftian Dark Ones and Elders.  That's really what's been missing from serial killer novels for the longest time, right?  Cook's got a great ear for dialogue and the humor is overwhelmingly dark.  Worth it.  Worth it.  Worth it.

Bullet Through Your Face by Edward Lee.  If you like Lee's mainstream, Leisure Fiction novels, but have never read his more underground stuff...ooooh, are you in for a treat.  Eraserhead Press just released two Lee books: Bullet Through Your Face and Brain Cheese Buffet.  Of the two, Bullet is my favorite.  Three novellas that are completely twisted - we're talking the most vile, most depraved, most decadent violence you've ever seen on the printed page.  Seriously, folks, if you're into the depravity of Bryan Smith (and numerous others that indulge in bloody, gross horror) then you've got to treat yourself to this Lee collection.  Click the pic.

MYSTERY:

July 27, 2010, "Star Island" by Carl Hiaasen.  It's been a while since Carl Hiaasen has cranked out an adult fiction book.  While he's been turning out quality YA books (i.e. Scat), we've not seen a Hiaasen tale for adults since "Nature Girl" in 2005!  I've never disliked a Hiaasen book, and I'm positive that this one will not disappoint.  In "Star Island", Hiaasen skewers the likes of Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan and all the popularity of miscreants in the pop-culture spotlight.

Click the pic to pre-order.

SCI-FI:

Garret Cook, "Archelon Ranch".  Once again, this is a release that is not necessarily new, but will be new to readers, no doubt.  If you like your sci-fi with a certain WTF quotient, well here ya go.  This is the dark side of Philip K. Dick, unleashed with no boundaries.  Paranoia and dystopian cities as well as dueling protagonists, thus creating antagnoists (following me so far?).  Archelon Ranch is one of those bizarro sci-fi novels that comes along and slaps you upside the head.  It's the sort of thing, if movie-fied, would end with a "It was all a dream moment".  Garrett Cook doesn't stoop to gimmicks like that.  That's one of the ways where this succeeds.

Carnageland by David Barbee.  Another release from last year, but knew to many of you.  We interviewed David Barbee a few weeks ago.  Fun guy - smart, knowledgeable on all things Geek, and writer of one of the most straight-forward books I've read in a spell.  Carnageland shows us the travelling invader, 898, who comes from a planet that seems ripped right out of a Pixar movie.  The book reads like a fast-paced video game, which is exactly what Barbee had in mind, since this was initially conceived as a video game concept.  If you're burned out on Harry Potter and want to see C. S. Lewis-like landscapes get blasted to smithereens: Click the pic!

NONFICTION:

August 2, 2010.  Mary Roach, "Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void".  Mary Roach, as many know, is a friend of the Authors Speak.  In fact, I'm terribly excited to meet her for drinks in D.C. in August, shortly after the release of this book.  I've always had a fascination with Space exploration, but even if I didn't, I'd still read Roach.  Her books are stupendous, regardless the subject matter.  And, for fans of Stiff, she's already told me that this one discusses NASA's use of cadavers in planning missions.  That right there is worth the price of admission.  Click the pic to pre-order (it's on sale right now for $15, which is a great savings).

August 17, 2010. "The Pain Chronicles: Cures, Myths, Mysteries, Prayers, Diaries, Brain Scans, Healing, and Science of Suffering".  I'm terribly excited about this release.  As someone that lives with pain 24/7 (courtesy of Crohn's disease and still recovering from a broken back), I've researched Pain, travelled to the American Pain Foundation, and tried to learn as much as I can about coping.  I've been told that everyone has at least 1 friend, out of every 3, that suffers from chronic pain.  With numbers like that, there are tons of myths and "old-wives tales".  This is a comprehensive look at why those myths came about, and how they can offer some sort of healing power (on a psychological level).  The only other thing I've read by Melanie Thernstrom was "Halfway Heaven", which summarized the events of the Harvard campus murder/suicide in 1995.  Fascinating read.  Click the pic.

So there you have it - and alternative look at the summer reading list.  There's a little something for everyone here, and hopefully they'll provide you with some fun over the next three months.  So, turn off the television, crank up the A/C (or slather on the SPF 45 and head out to the hammock) and crack open a book.  If you've read a good one and you'd like to tell everyone of the sheer awesomeness of it, please email me with your review.  Fan reviews will be posted once a month.