Author Archives: Daimion
Review – “Deadline” by Mira Grant
When I finish a book, I usually like to let it sit for a few days before I start crafting my review. I like to let it marinate, as it were, and bounce around unencumbered in the empty bell tower of my subconscious. Not so with “Deadline”. I just finished it seven minutes ago and felt compelled to grab the laptop, head out to the back porch, and start writing. Why the rush? Quite simply, I was blown away by the story and I have to share it with you.
“Deadline” is the second book in the Newsflesh trilogy from author Mira Grant. The first book in the series, “Feed”, came out last year and landed the fifth spot on my “Top 11 of 2010” list. As I said about it at the time –
“Mira Grant constructs a world filled with characters and zombies that allow us to see not only what the zombie apocalypse might look like, but also forces us to ask the question – in a world full of danger, loss, and fear; how important is the truth?”
With “Deadline”, Grant dives headlong back into the world of “Feed” and shows us that some truths are more true than others.
Corey Smith, “The Broken Record” Webisodes Part 2 – The Georgia Theater
Last week, Corey Smith posted the first in a series of webisodes to promote his upcoming album, “The Broken Record”. This week, the second webisode has been released – “The Georgia Theater”. Corey talks about starting out his career and his first performances at the Georgia Theater, and how much he’s looking forward the its reopening later this summer. “The Broken Record” releases next Tuesday, 6/21. Make sure to get a copy!
Pre-order your Maelstrom Books limited edition sets this weekend
If you didn’t get a chance to order the inaugural offering from Maelstrom Books, your chance to order the second set of releases is fast approaching. The next set of three signed and numbered books will be available for pre-order this Sunday, June 19th.
If you haven’t heard of Maelstrom Books, you can get the full scoop from Brian Keene’s website here. In a nutshell, each set consists of three books – one novel length work from Brian Keene, one novella from Brian Keene, and one full-length novel from an auther of Keene’s choosing. Each book is signed and numbered, with the entire release limited to 260 sets for wave one, and now 300 sets for wave two.
The first wave gave us a collectible version of Keene’s “A Gathering Crows”, a new novella set in the Rising universe, “The Rising: Deliverance” and the phenomenal debut novel “Six Days” from Kelli Owen. (You can read my review of “Six Days” here.)
For wave two, Keene has contributed the novel length collection “A Conspiracy of One”, the novella “Alone”, and “Once Upon A Time In Midnight” by John Urbancik. You can read more about each book and find out about the pre-order here.
No matter who you are – a Brian Keene fan, a horror fan, a book collector – do yourself a favor and pre-order the second set of releases from Maelstrom Books. You won’t be disappointed, unless you decide to wait until Monday and find they are already sold-out. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
Review – “Level 7″ by Mordecai Roshwald
Faithful readers will remember that I am a fan of “end of the world” stories. I read them regularly and enjoy them immensely. Always on the lookout for something I haven’t read in the genre, I came across “Level 7” by Mordecai Roshwald while exploring a string of “other customers also bought” recommendations on Amazon. I took the plunge, punched the button, and decided to give the book a try.
“Level 7” was first published in 1959. It is constructed as the diary of Officer X-127 – a military officer who is part of his country’s nuclear weapons program. X-127 is deployed to the 7th level of a vast underground complex – the level responsible for the offensive capabilities of their nuclear arsenal (Level 6 is defensive, Level 5 is living quarters for the elite and political classes, etc.). Through his journal entries, you learn about life underground, the eventual start of a full-scale nuclear war, and the aftermath for the survivors.
Review – “Austin Nights” by herocious
Sometimes you find a story that’s more than a story, and other times you read a book that’s only a collection of words. Sometimes you get a glimpse into someone else’s life and other times you take a step back and look at your own. Sometimes you learn something profound and other times simplicity confounds you. Sometimes you enjoy the journey and other times you only see the destination. Sometimes you read a book like “Austin Nights” by herocious.
“Austin Nights” is a book that defies easy description, but delivers a potent impact to the self aware reader. It tells the story of Michael and Bridget, a couple moving from Miami to Austin, TX, within the construct of a series of journal entries. The chapters have been shuffled together in seemingly random order, jumping back in forth in time and location, leaving you with an experience akin to tuning an old dial radio through someone’s mind; sliding from station to station, moment to moment, memory to memory – impossible to hear an entire song, but inescapable in it’s mood and atmosphere.
Star Wars – 1942
“What would Star Wars have been like if it had taken place during World War II?” If I had a dime for every time I’ve heard that question – well – I would still be broke. But that’s beside the point. The point is, the folks over at Sillof’s Workshop DID ask the question, then created a set of custom action figures to provide the answer.
Incredibly detailed one of a kind pieces of artwork, these figures provide a glimpse in to an alternate world populated by bomber pilot Capt. Han Solowski, fighter pilot Corp. Lucas S. Walker, Reichsfurher Vader, and many others. You can feel the authenticity and attention to detail that adds to the WWII mythos that wraps each figure.
Alas, these figures are long sold to a lucky collector. But through the miracle of the Internet, we are still able to enjoy them in all their glory. Head over to Sillof’s Workshop to see the entire series, as well as other reimaginings of the Star Wars universe, including Film Noir Star Wars, Medievel Star Wars, and Samurai Wars. You won’t be disappointed.
My interview with Ty Drago, author of “The Undertakers: Rise of the Corpses”
If you haven’t had a chance to read my review of “The Undertakers: Rise of The Corpses”, you can find it here. It’s a great new addition to the young adult genre – both because it’s an incredibly entertaining story, and because it’s about zombies. I had a chance to chat with the Ty Drago, the author of “The Undertakers” recently. We talked about everything from his inspiration for the novel, to the role his son played in helping him get the characters’ voices to ring true, to – of course – the (real) pending zombie apocalypse.
Excerpt from Stephen King’s upcoming novel “11/22/63″
Stephen King’s latest novel, “11/22/62″, is set to be released on November 8th. A time travel novel that deals with America during the late fifties and the potential for changing history. The official synopsis describes it as:
On November 22, 1963, three shots rang out in Dallas,
President Kennedy died, and the world changed.If you had the chance to change history, would you?
Would the consequences be worth it?Jake Epping is a thirty-five-year-old high school English teacher in Lisbon Falls, Maine, who makes extra money teaching adults in the GED program. He receives an essay from one of the students—a gruesome, harrowing first person story about the night 50 years ago when Harry Dunning’s father came home and killed his mother, his sister, and his brother with a hammer. Harry escaped with a smashed leg, as evidenced by his crooked walk.
Not much later, Jake’s friend Al, who runs the local diner, divulges a secret: his storeroom is a portal to 1958. He enlists Jake on an insane—and insanely possible—mission to try to prevent the Kennedy assassination. So begins Jake’s new life as George Amberson and his new world of Elvis and JFK, of big American cars and sock hops, of a troubled loner named Lee Harvey Oswald and a beautiful high school librarian named Sadie Dunhill, who becomes the love of Jake’s life—a life that transgresses all the normal rules of time.
Schribner has released an excerpt from the book that you can read here. I always look forward to a new Stephen King book. This is no exception.
Corey Smith, “The Broken Record” Webisodes Part 1 – Grandma
In support of his up coming album, “The Broken Record”, Corey Smith is releasing a series of webisodes. The first one hit this weekend, and is entitled “Grandma”. Learn a little about where Corey grew up, meet his grandma (who he lived with through high school”), and as she brings out pictures of him as a kid and tells him how she really wishes he were a teacher – be reminded just how awesome Southern grandmas really are.
“The Broken Record” releases on June 21st. You can pre-order an autographed copy of the CD here, as well as some cool merchandise. If you not a Corey Smith fan – you should be!
Amazing “Star Wars” Posters
Even though these posters are long gone (they were limited to 400 prints each, and sold out in under 20 minutes when they were released in December), I just had to share them with anyone. They were created by artist Olly Moss for Mondo. They contain some of the most striking and elegantly simple visions of the “Star Wars” I’ve ever seen. I wish I owned them, but I don’t. Still – we can all appreciate their beauty and artistry digitally. Enjoy!
