Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror

Something Wicked This Way Comes

A masterpiece of modern Gothic literature, Something Wicked This Way Comes is the memorable story of two boys, James Nightshade and William Halloway, and the evil that grips their small Midwestern town with the arrival of a "dark carnival" one Autumn midnight. How these two innocents, both age 13, save the souls of the town (as well as their own), makes for compelling reading on timeless themes. What would you do if your secret wishes could be granted by the mysterious ringmaster Mr. Dark? Bradbury excels in revealing the dark side that exists in us all, teaching us ultimately to celebrate the shadows rather than fear them. In many ways, this is a companion piece to his joyful, nostalgia-drenched Dandelion Wine, in which Bradbury presented us with one perfect summer as seen through the eyes of a 12-year-old. In Something Wicked This Way Comes, he deftly explores the fearsome delights of one perfectly terrifying, unforgettable autumn. --Stanley Wiater

The carnival rolls in sometime after midnight, ushering in Halloween a week early. The shrill siren song of a calliope beckons to all with a seductive promise of dreams and youth regained. In this season of dying, Cooger & Dark's Pandemonium Shadow Show has come to Green Town, Illinois, to destroy every life touched by its strange and sinister mystery. And two boys will discover the secret of its smoke, mazes, and mirrors; two friends who will soon know all too well the heavy cost of wishes. . .and the stuff of nightmare.

Few American novels written this century have endured in the heart and memory as has Ray Bradbury's unparalleled literary classic SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES. For those who still dream and remember, for those yet to experience the hypnotic power of its dark poetry, step inside. The show is about to begin.The carnival rolls in sometime after midnight, ushering in Halloween a week early. The shrill siren song of a calliope beckons to all with a seductive promise of dreams and youth regained. In this season of dying, Cooger & Dark's Pandemonium Shadow Show has come to Green Town, Illinois, to destroy every life touched by its strange and sinister mystery. And two boys will discover the secret of its smoke, mazes, and mirrors; two friends who will soon know all too well the heavy cost of wishes. . .and the stuff of nightmare.

Few American novels written this century have endured in the heart and memory as has Ray Bradbury's unparalleled literary classic SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES. For those who still dream and remember, for those yet to experience the hypnotic power of its dark poetry, step inside. The show is about to begin.

The Quotable Slayer (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

"Well, the slayer always says a pun or a witty play on words, and I think it throws vampires off!" -- Willow Rosenberg, "Anne"

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER CAN TOSS A ONE-LINER MORE LETHAL THAN HER RIGHT HOOK -- WITHOUT BREAKING A SWEAT. NOW FANS OF BUFFY'S WICKED WORDPLAY WON'T WANT TO MISS THIS EXHAUSTIVE COLLECTION OF THE FUNNIEST, MOST TELLING, AND OFTEN POIGNANT QUOTES FROM THE EMMY-NOMINATED TELEVISION SHOW.

"'Her abuse of the English language is such that I understand only every other sentence....'" -- Wesley Wyndam-Pryce (quoting Giles) on Buffy, "Bad Girls"

CATEGORIZED, CROSS-REFERENCED, AND COMPLETE WITH A COLOR-PHOTO INSERT, THIS NOTABLE QUOTE COMPENDIUM WILL HAVE YOU EAGERLY ENHANCING YOUR BUFFY-SPEAK.

"If I had the Slayer's power, I'd be punning right about now." -- Buffy Summers, "Helpless"

The Wind in the Willows

Since its beginnings as a series of stories told to Kenneth Grahame's young son, The Wind in the Willows has become one of the best-loved children's books ever. Toad, Rat, Mole, and Badger will find yet another new audience with this edition formatted for the Amazon Kindle

The Crow: Shattered Lives & Broken Dreams

The Crow, a dark character created by James O'Barr, "warps together two of man's strongest emotions and desires--love and revenge," writes Ed Kramer in the preface to this anthology of theme stories and art. A black, nightmarish spirit with a harlequin mouth, the Crow was born to avenge the brutal slaying of his beloved. Incarnations of the Crow stalk time and space, bringing ruthless and horrible justice to rapists and murderers.

O'Barr and Kramer asked an incredible array of fantastic fiction writers to interpret this Goth phenomenon--from A.A. Attanasio to Gene Wolfe, Alan Dean Foster, Charles de Lint, Jack Dann, and Jane Yolen. Shattered Lives & Broken Dreams delivers chilling, graphic tales of mystic revenge, from some of the best modern fantasy authors. Poetry (from Henry Rollins and Iggy Pop, among others) and original art complete this ode to the Crow. Readers of the popular comic book series and fans of the movie starring Brandon Lee will find lots to chill and thrill them in this collection. --Therese Littleton

"He avenges the innocent dead. He stalks the crimson road of the slain. He mourns lost love so ardently that desire and death become one. He is the dream-carrier of holy retribution. And in the name of love he delivers justice to the wicked."
--From the Introduction

With this chilling collection of stories and poems, J. O'Barr--the creator of The Crow--and Ed  Kramer host an ominous array of interpretations of the gothic phenomenon by acclaimed writers well acquainted with the dark side, including Alan Dean Foster, Ramsey Campbell, Gene Wolfe, Storm Constantine, Nancy Collins, Andrew Vachss, Iggy Pop, and Henry Rollins.

Featuring original artwork by such top artists as Ron Walotsky, Rob Prior, Tom Canty, Tim Bradstreet, Don Maitz, and Bob Eggleton, The Crow: Shattered Lives and Broken Dreams evokes a modern night-world and its tormented denizens ensnared by unspeakable evil, enslaved by unquenchable longing, engulfed by the thirst for revenge, and enfolded by the enigmatic, eternal wings of The Crow.

Here a resurrected gunslinger gets a final showdown with his archenemy. . . .
A murder victim and a dying boy mete out poetic justice to a sadistic criminal. . . . A serial killer turned government assassin takes three abused children under his savage wing. . . . A tormented rogue cop literally fights fire with fire. . . . A wise talking crow guides the vengeful hand of a murdered girl's lover. . . . and much more.

For both the confirmed fan and the curious newcomer, this spellbinding, shocking, darkly sensual collection offers passage to an extraordinary literary realm: a place of macabre morality tales and existential adventures, of terror and tenderness--from which no reader can hope to leave unchanged. For when you take flight with The Crow, there is no turning back.

The Gothic World of Stephen King: Landscape of Nightmares

Stephen King’s popularity lies in his ability to reinterpret the standard Gothic tale in new and exciting ways. Through his eyes, the conventional becomes unconventional and wonderful. King thus creates his own Gothic world and then interprets it for us. This book analyzes King’s interpretations and his mastery of popular literature. The essays discuss adolescent revolt, the artist as survivor, the vampire in popular literature, and much more.

Not Quite Hell

In literature and in film, ghosts are often portrayed as malevolent entities, bent on destructive acts of mischief, mayhem, even murder. I prefer tales that depict these often tortured souls as characters that are sympathetic to the good people struggling through the hard, real world around them. I like to think that ghosts step in on occasion from the shadowy hinterlands, perform a happy little miracle, then fade back to let their action enrich and intrigue the beneficiary of their philanthropy. Of course, even when dealing with an altruistic apparition, it's probably not a good idea to make it angry.

What Do I Read Next 2006: A Reader's Guide to Current Genre Fiction : Fantasy, Popular Fiction, Romance, Horror, Mystery, Science Fiction, HIstorical, INspirational, Western (What Do I Read Next)

What Do I Read Next 2005: A reader's Guide to Current Genre Fiction, Fantasy, Popular fiction, Romance, Horror, Mystery, Science Fiction, Historical, Inspirational, western (What Do I Read Next) Vol 1

LA My Way

A collection of 15 short stories by different authors, each prefaced by appropriate poetry. The common thread that links the varied story lines is the backdrop of Los Angeles. The flavor of this West Coast city is apparent in each. Topics range from love, in all its various permutations, to violence and death. The "voice" of each of the authors is fresh and exciting. Readers will find this a fascinating read. A great book to devour on the beach or take along on vacation. A perfect carry-on for a cross-country flight.

The Night of the Triffids